Nowra prisoners teargassed and dozens placed in lockdown after fires

New South Wales prison staff have used teargas to contain dozens of maximum security inmates at the Nowra prison after an inmate lit a fire in his cell and two others climbed on an awning.

At about 9.30 on Wednesday morning a maximum security inmate started a fire in his cell and refused to leave, and officers used gas to remove him, a spokeswoman for Corrective Services NSW said.

“About the same time, two other inmates climbed on to an awning of an internal building and came back down shortly after without instruction.”

The spokeswoman confirmed immediate action team officers were brought in and also used gas to remove an undisclosed number of other inmates from the yards and back to their cells.

She said two maximum security pods of about 60 inmates were placed in lockdown.

Inmates are not usually in lockdown between mid-morning and 2pm.

One inmate was treated for smoke inhalation from the cell fire. She said reports the incident constituted a riot were incorrect.

The NSW Fire Service, Rural Fire Service, Hazmat and ambulance crews were called to the prison but only went as far as the main foyer to speak to staff.

A Shoalhaven RFS officer, Brad Collins, told local media prison staff were “well trained” to respond to fires and external crews were not usually let into the facility.

He said a number of smaller fires were lit in other cells but they were extinguished quickly and the cells were locked down as per prison protocols.

The corrective services commissioner, Peter Severin, said the incident was of the type officers dealt with on a regular basis.

“Corrective services officers face a difficult job each day in managing some of the most dangerous people,” he said. “The Nowra officers’ capable and swift response to this incident meant the safety and security of the centre was maintained – they did a terrific job.”