HOCKLEY COUNTY, TX - Some inmates at the Hockley County Jail tried breaking out of prison by starting a fire. But the attempt for freedom failed and instead, sent those inmates to the hospital. "Why they did it, I have no idea," says Hockley County Sheriff David Kinney. "At the time, there wasn't any rioting, there wasn't anybody griping coming from back there."

"I don't know why they would do that, set their cell on fire where they couldn't escape," says Jay McKay, with the Levelland Fire Department.

McKay and Kinney both say the escape plans started with wire. The wire was then lodged into an electrical socket, helping start a spark. The spark spread to paper, and then onto mattresses in a cell blocks holding 15 prisoners. But those 15 suffering from smoke inhalation behind bars affected others who were already free.

"Sixty-two ... inmates, three jailers, fire department, deputies, we're talking about a lot of people," says Kinney.

And many more people had to help control the situation.

"When this call came down, the police department, highway patrol, (off-duty) deputies showed up, pulled out their shotguns and they herded everybody up, guarded them and got them out of any kind of harm," says Kinney.

After everyone was safe from harm, 15 inmates were taken to the hospital, along with several officers; officers that risked their lives to save criminals who now, ironically, could face more jail time. Now that the clean-up is complete, many involved in the mess say it could have been a lot worse.

"Someone could have easily died in there," says Kinney. "We could have had a lot of fatalities out of the situation, if the firefighters hadn't done the great job that they did," agrees McKay. "That's what all made it turn out the way that it did."

All of the inmates who were taken to the hospital are back in jail, whether that be in Lubbock, Levelland or Brownfield. Once the state fire marshal's office concludes their investigation, the inmates responsible could face arson charges and possibly even attempted murder charges. Levelland taxpayers are also paying a price. The jail will need some repairs and many off-duty officers were called in to help. The damaged portion of the jail should take about 10 days to repair.