Director denies fire hazard at Atlanta Jail

An Atlanta city councilman says jail workers, inmates and visitors are being exposed to a fire hazard. The problem is reportedly in the kitchen of the city jail.  However, the facility's director says the jail is safe.

Atlanta City Councilman Michael Bond, the chair of the city's public safety panel, said an inspection revealed that the jail system had no motor to operate a main exhaust fan in the kitchen.

"If you do have a grease fire or some other kind of fire incident there, making sure all of your equipment and in place is absolutely essential…A jail is a closed environment," said Bond.

Patrick Labat, the city's jail director, said that Bond must have been given incomplete information. He said two large walk-in ovens are down, but he said several smaller ovens are safe.

He said that maintenance crews have determined that the motor can't be repaired, so they are putting in a quote in to get another motor for the system.

"At no point has any system that is operational been without an exhaust fan," said Labat.

Labat also noted that Bond may not be familiar with fire suppression equipment that has also been installed.