AUGUSTA, W.Va. — A problem with the heating and cooling system at the Potomac Highlands Regional Jail in Pendleton County forced authorities to transfer about 200 inmates to surrounding regional jails Tuesday night.
Regional Jail Authority spokesman Larry Messina said a valve problem within the HVAC system created safety concerns.
“To complete repairs they’ll need to purge these lines, and there is liquid propane in the lines,” he said.
Authorities started moving inmates Tuesday afternoon, assisted by workers with the state Division of Corrections. Messina said things should be back to normal within three days.
“We believe we have contingencies in place to allow these inmates to be temporarily housed in other facilities until they can be shipped back to the Hampshire County jail,” he said.
The Potomac Highlands Regional Jail, located in Augusta, has the fewest inmates of any of the 10 jails in the state’s regional system.