“This is the first time, for us (fire has broken out in cells),” RFS Shoalhaven district officer Brad Collins said.

Police and corrective services have not yet identified how several small fires were lit in cells of the maximum security section of the South Nowra jail this morning.

At 9.30am, an inmate refused to leave his cell after lighting a fire, and correctional officers sprayed tear gas to safely remove inmates from the area.

At about the same time, two other inmates climbed on to an awning of an internal building.

They soon came down from the awning, and the fire was then extinguished by staff members.

A series of fires were then lit in four other cells.

“Once that occurred the prison was placed in lock down,” Mr Collins said.

Fire crews were not given access to the maximum security area, but they were in touch with prison wardens monitoring the situation.

“The staff are well trained at extinguishing fires, and there isn’t a lot of combustible materials in there,” Mr Collins said.

There were no injuries reported, however some inmates were treated for minor smoke inhalation.

In the flurry of events, some firefighters were not alerted to news that tear gas was being deployed.

The firefighters were hit by the tear gas in the car park of the facility, and suffered minor impacts.

There were four Rural Fire Services trucks deployed, a Hazmat truck and a Fire and Rescue NSW truck.

There was minimal damage done to the jail, and items within it.

An entourage of police officers and paramedics attended the scene.

By 12pm, all maximum security prisoners were in lock-down in their cells.

Corrective Services NSW Commissioner Peter Severin praised officers at South Nowra for their excellent work in responding to an incident at the prison.

“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 it is likely the inmates involved will face charges.