Inmate Damages Fire Suppression System at Eastern Correctional Institution

SOMERSET COUNTY, MD - An incident involving malicious destruction of property occurred at Eastern Correctional Institution on September 16, 2025, at approximately 7:26 P.M. The facility is located at 30420 Revells Neck Road in Westover, Somerset County, Maryland.

Correctional officers discovered that an inmate had deliberately broken a sprinkler head in a cell within housing unit 4. The incident triggered the facility's fire alarm and sprinkler system, which operated as designed. The damage was contained to the single cell where the incident occurred.

No injuries or deaths resulted from the incident. No occupants were displaced from the masonry correctional facility, which is owned by the State of Maryland. The situation was brought under control within five minutes of discovery.

The estimated financial loss totaled $380.00 in contents damage, with no structural damage reported. Both smoke alarms and the fire alarm system were present and functioned properly during the incident. The facility's sprinkler system activated appropriately in response to the damage.

Charges are currently pending in connection with the incident. No fire department response was required due to the contained nature of the damage and quick resolution by facility staff.

The affected cell was able to be reoccupied after repairs were completed to the damaged sprinkler system. The incident remains under investigation by correctional facility authorities.