Mitchell jail fire

Mitchell jail fire
Date	May 3, 2002
Venue	Mitchell County jail
Location	Bakersville, North Carolina, United States
Coordinates	36°00′47″N82°09′16″W / 36.0130°N 82.1545°W
Type	Fire
Deaths	8
Non-fatal injuries	13

Last updated February 18, 2025

On Friday, May 3, 2002, a fire broke out at the Mitchell County jail in Bakersville, North Carolina. Bakersville is located northeast of Asheville, North Carolina, and has a population of less than 500. The jail, built in the 1950s, held 17 inmates; some were serving time for misdemeanors and others were awaiting trial on felonies.

Sources

Nowell, Paul. "N.C. Jail Fire kills eight inmates." Associated Press May 5, 2002.
Hall, Nathan. "County veiled in sadness." Mitchell News Journal May 8, 2002.
North Carolina Industrial Commission. Robinson v. Dept. of Health and Human Services. Civil Tort Counterclaim. March 2, 2009. Raleigh.
New York Times "Fire Kills Eight Inmates Trapped in a North Carolina Jail" May 5, 2002, Section 1, Page 33 https://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/05/us/fire-kills-eight-inmates-trapped-in-a-north-carolina-jail.html

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Date	May 3, 2002 (2002-05-03)
Venue	Mitchell County jail
Location	Bakersville, North Carolina, United States
Coordinates	36°00′47″N82°09′16″W / 36.0130°N 82.1545°W / 36.0130; -82.1545
Type	Fire
Deaths	8
Non-fatal injuries	13