Prisoners evacuate correctional van after vehicle fire on Hwy 400

Several prisoners evacuated a correctional van that caught on fire on Highway 400 in Barrie.

Several prisoners on board a correctional services vehicle had to be evacuated after a fire broke out as it travelled along Highway 400 in Barrie Wednesday morning.

OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt says the fire happened in the southbound lanes near Essa Road. Eleven inmates and two guards escaped the vehicle. No injuries were reported.

Fire crews quickly got the situation under control and the prisoners were transferred to another corrections van for transport.

Schmidt said the vehicle was towed from the area.