BREAKING NEWS: Newcastle firefighters rush to help fight prison blaze

Earlier today, a massive fire began at the Glencoe Regional Prison.

According to sister paper, the Northern Natal Courier, the fire began in the dining rooms of the prison and spread on towards the office block of the prison.

Firefighters from around the district were called in to assist in quelling the blaze.

Reports state the prison has more or less been completely decimated by the fire.

Prisoners managed to elude the flames and lined up outside the prison with their respective belongings.

According to sources, more than 1 000 prisoners have been displaced due to the blaze, and the ramifications of the fire will only be known in the coming days, as many prisoners will need to be transferred.

In the past, hundreds of state prisoners were released due to the small capacity of South African prisons, and sources within the Department of Correctional Services are worried about the possibilities.

Contrary to rumours spread at the onset of the fire, no reports of escaped prisoners have been released, and sources explained all prisoners were accounted for.

In many places, the fire has been extinguished, and firefighters from the various Protection Services are battling to contain and extinguish the blaze in all areas.

For more photos of the fire click here.