Corrective Services NSW Commissioner Peter Severin has praised officers at South Coast Correctional Centre in Nowra, for their excellent work in responding to an incident at the prison today (Wednesday 3 January, 2018).

About 9.30am, a maximum-security inmate started a fire and refused to vacate his cell.

Immediate Action Team officers were forced to deploy gas in order to safely remove all inmates from the area.

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 maximum-security wing has now been placed in lock-down with all inmates secured in their cells.

Mr Severin said the incident demonstrated the types of situations correctional officers dealt with on a regular basis.

“Corrective Services officers face a difficult job each day in managing some of the most dangerous people,” Mr Severin 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.”

Corrective Services NSW is investigating the incident and the inmates involved can face charges.

11.53: Another ambulance has just entered the prison complex.

11.47: Reporters at the scene have been told tear gas is still being used in the prison and dogs have been deployed to subdue inmates.

10.28: There are reports of prisoners setting fire to cells. The Nine Network has tweeted that up to 300 prisoners have been affected by teargas.

10:01: Corrective Services has set up a media exclusion at the jail perimeter. 

Emergency service crews are attending a fire at the South Coast Correctional Centre at South Nowra.

The fire is believed to have started in the maximum security wing.

Rural Fire Service brigades, Fire and Rescue NSW, Police Rescue and Ambulance NSW crews have converged on the prison.

Emergency services were called to the fire about 9.30am.

Jail staff reportedly had locked down prisoners.

More to come