Triple digit temperatures are impacting how inmates are staying cool in the Canadian County Jail. County commissioners confirmed one of the jail's air conditioning units is broken.
EL RENO, Okla. (KFOR) — Triple digit temperatures are impacting how inmates are staying cool in the Canadian County Jail. County commissioners confirmed one of the jail's air conditioning units is broken.
News 4 has received several emails about the issue. County commissioners said repairs should be made later this week.
"I don't even know how many people they have in there but I don't care what they done. They're still people, they're still human beings," said Danny Kincaid, who's concerned for people inside the jail.
Canadian county commissioners said the broken unit is from the original equipment from the 1984's jail new construction.
"The person I know that's in there. She's been in there like 30 days. From what I understand, it's been at least two to three weeks that they have that the A/C hasn't been working," said Kincaid.
When repair work started, crews learned they needed extra parts to get the unit working again.
"The challenge is getting parts for that and making them incorporate together," said Tom Manske, Canadian County Commissioner District 1.
According to the Oklahoma Department of Health, jails have to be at least 85 degrees or lower.
"We have been using water coolers, other air conditioners to open up doors to let the air flow," said Commissioner Manske.
Commissioner Manske also said the temporary accommodations have dropped temperatures ten degrees and despite the broken A/C unit, they're compliant with the Department of Health.
"Our maintenance staff and our sheriff's department take this very seriously. They are working hard to make sure that we don't do anything inhumane or inability for the inmates," said Manske.
However, that still has those outside the jail concerned as the weather is supposed to hit triple digits again over the next few days.
"I just don't want them to go, you know, another two, three weeks or a month, you know, the whole the rest of the summer in there like that," said Manske.
County commissioners said the A/C unit should be working again by Thursday.
News 4 asked if they have plans to update the unit in the future to avoid it from breaking again and Commissioner Manske said that's being discussed.
