Prisoner seriously injured by fire in cell at Waikato’s Spring Hill Corrections Facility

By RNZ

A man is in a serious condition in hospital after a fire in his prison cell at Spring Hill Corrections Facility in the Waikato.

The prison’s acting general manager, Alan Lamb, said the fire happened at 4.45pm on Friday, but for “security reasons” he could not say how it started.

The sprinkler system activated and extinguished the fire, Lamb said, and staff responded immediately to remove the man from his cell.

“There was no threat to the wider security of the prison,” he said.

Due to smoke inhalation an ambulance was called for the man, Lamb confirmed, and he was taken to hospital.

No other staff or prisoners were affected, he said.

“The prisoner who started the fire will face internal misconduct charges.”

St John confirmed it responded to the area on Friday afternoon and took a person with serious injuries to Waikato Hospital.

Fire and Emergency northern shift manager Hayley Prince said they sent three fire trucks to Spring Hill at 5.12pm.

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