COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — On April 21, 1930, the deadliest prison fire in U.S. history occurred at the Ohio State Penitentiary, an area now known as the Arena District.
The penitentiary, which operated near downtown Columbus from 1834 until its demolition in 1998, was the site of a devastating blaze that claimed the lives of 322 inmates and injured 30 others.
The fire began in a cell block housing 800 inmates, many of whom were locked in for the night and pleaded to be released from their smoke-filled cells. The chaos quickly escalated into a riot, complicating the efforts of firefighters who arrived on the scene. To restore order, approximately 500 soldiers from nearby Fort Hayes were called in to assist as crews worked to control the fire.
Overcrowding at the prison had been a well-documented issue for over two decades leading up to the fire. On the day of the incident, the inmate population had swelled to twice its intended capacity. Prison officials later attributed the fire to three inmates who allegedly started it as a diversion for an escape attempt.
The tragedy prompted state lawmakers to establish the Ohio Parole Board in 1931, aiming to reduce the prison’s inmate population.
This catastrophic event remains a significant, albeit hidden, chapter in the history of the Arena District.
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