An investigation is underway after yesterday’s fire at the Southeast Correctional Centre in Shediac.
Shediac Fire Captain Julian Boudreau says the Fire Marshall is on the scene today to try and determine how the fire at the Shediac jail started.
He says there is quite a bit of damage to the building, especially on roof area of the second floor, and also on the third floor where the HVAC unit is located.
Boudreau says there is also a lot of water damage to other areas in the building.
He expects it could be awhile before before staff and inmates will be able to return to the building.
Around 160 inmates from the facility had to be relocated, and staff were also evacuated.
No one was injured.
The Department of Justice and Public Safety says offenders at the Shediac jail have been moved to other correctional centres with help from RCMP and other correctional officials.
For security reasons, the exact locations of the inmates will not been released.
Officials say staff is working on plans to return to the jail with near-normal routines as soon as possible.
The department says it will release a statement when the Southeast Correctional Centre can be re-occupied.
The fire broke out yesterday afternoon, and sent black smoke billowing into the sky which could be seen from kilometres away.
