Sprinklers quickly extinguished the fire confined to the medical director's office but smoke filled the first floor of the medical wing and administrative offices. Water from the sprinkler flooded the medical hallway, dispatch and the administrative hallways.
Deputies used fire extinguishers to put out hot spots.
Murfreesboro Fire and Rescue firefighters estimated 35 gallons of water per minute dropped from the sprinklers, Sheriff Arnold said.
Deputies, the sheriff and inmates mopped water from the hallways.
Murfreesboro Fire and Rescue Department and Rutherford County Fire and Rescue responded to clear the area of smoke that filled the hallways. The water and smoke damage did not spread to the inmate housing areas.
"There are more fatalities in jails from smoke inhalation," Sheriff Arnold said. "Our employees and inmates did a good job in clearing the smoke as fast as possible."
The fire heavily damaged the medical director's office. Damage figures were unavailable.
Sheriff Arnold asked Murfreesboro Fire and Rescue to investigate the cause of the fire with help from Sheriff's arson investigator Detective Randy Groce.
"It's unfortunate this incident happened," Sheriff Arnold said. "Thank God, no one was seriously hurt."
Sheriff Arnold thanked Murfreesboro Fire and Rescue, Rutherford Fire and Rescue and the Sheriff's Office employees and inmates for their quick response.
