All 18 inmates from a unit at Pine Grove Correctional Centre in Prince Albert were moved to the chapel and a recreation centre on Wednesday because of elevated levels of carbon monoxide, and two inmates and a staff member were transported to hospital. Spokesperson for the Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety, Noel Busse, says inmates from the unit reported a funny smell to staff in the morning.
Staff investigated, called SaskEnergy and immediately ventilated the unit. SaskEnergy found elevated levels of carbon monoxide, and it turns out a faulty heater for the unit was the cause.

Busse says he isn’t sure if there were supposed to be carbon monoxide detectors at Pine Grove prior to this incident, but the unit has now been equipped with them and there is a review going on about detectors in the facility.

SaskEnergy deemed the unit safe around 4 p.m., so the inmates were brought back , and the three sent to the hospital were also back at Pine Grove around the same time. When asked whether the heating systems in other units were being inspected, Busse directed reporters to ask the Ministry of SaskBuilds and Procurement.