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.