A corrections guard stands on the yard at the Bledsoe County Correctional Complex.Heat goes out at Bledsoe County prison
BLEDSOE COUNTY, Tenn. – Inmates in one of the buildings at the new Bledsoe County Correctional Complex west of Pikeville, Tenn., had a chilly day as temperatures dipped inside after the heat went out.
Tennessee Department of Correction officials said heating systems at some of the buildings at the prison in Bledsoe County were having “mechanical issues” that crews at the prison could not fix themselves.
Eleanor Fleming, who has a relative at the prison, said the lack of heat was the cause of “condensation forming, with wet beds and mattresses with water forming on the floor,” according to an email she sent to the Chattanooga Times Free Press.
“Initially, we were unable to make the repairs on site, therefore, we began working with a contractor to complete the necessary repairs and fully restore heat as soon as possible,” an email from TDOC spokeswoman Cindy Dunning said.
“We are anticipating the contractor will be onsite to start the repairs today,” Dunning said Tuesday.