VANCE COUNTY, N.C. — The Vance County Sheriff's Office said a federal inmate tried to escape from jail Friday by setting fire to his mattress.

Jail workers were able to put the fire with extinguishers. The fire department was called to use fans to clear out the smoke.

Authorities said the inmate was housed in the special high-risk section of the jail. Nearby cells were evacuated as a precaution, but they have since returned.

The inmate, whose name has not been released, was taken to Maria Parham Medical Center to check for possible smoke inhalation.