BOP spokesperson Emery Nelson said the fight involving three inmates happened around 11:50 a.m.

Jennifer Rockhill, president of AFGE Local 3882, the union representing FCI Ray Brook’s corrections officers, said this was an inter-gang fight and that chairs and broomsticks were used as weapons, but there were no serious injuries. Nelson said the inmates were treated for minor injuries.

Rockhill said the fight was difficult to break up.

“They were not complying with officers’ orders,” she said. “Usually, there’s common knowledge that as soon as the officer gets in there to stop. But they didn’t. That puts our officers more at risk.”

Rockhill said the lockdown is expected to last through the end of week and said she appreciated the administration honoring COs concerns and implementing a lockdown.

Nelson said during a lockdown, inmates have continuing access to at least three meals per day, potable water, unit team employees, medical services and psychological services. They are allowed to shower on a rotating basis and can send or receive mail through the U.S. Postal Service.

FCI Ray Brook is across the street from the state Adirondack Correctional prison, where currently around half of the corrections officers are on an unsanctioned strike. To read more about this strike, go to tinyurl.com/2uux9nna.

“We battle with the same issues, so we fully support them,” Rockhill said.

Rockhill said there have been a slew of minor fights in recent weeks that did not result in lockdowns as the prison is “transitioning” with new inmates coming in from other institutions as federal prisons make room to take in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainees. As new inmates mingle with existing ones, they don’t always get along, Rockhill said.

The federal Bureau of Prisons is shuffling around inmates to make room for thousands of immigrants detained by ICE in President Donald Trump’s push for mass deportations of undocumented immigrants.

Rockhill said FCI Ray Brook currently has 796 inmates, but she’s anticipating a lot more in the coming days.

The prison has around 70 corrections officers currently.

Last month, a staff member working in the mail room at FCI Ray Brook was hospitalized after starting to feel sick. It was suspected that he was exposed to an unknown substance in a magazine, but a hazmat crew found no illegal or harmful substance, according to the federal Bureau of Prisons.

Union leaders at FCI Ray Brook are pushing for increased protections and investments in safety. To read more about this, go to tinyurl.com/2pe8as8u.

Rockhill said this employee is back at work now.

Union leaders at the medium-security FCI Ray Brook say they are also seeing increased contraband deliveries by drones. Last week, State Police charged a man from Vermont with a litany of crimes, including “knowingly introducing dangerous contraband into prison.”

Rockhill said this arrest took place right behind the federal prison.

The prison has been on lockdown, on and off, over the past year for several reasons — mostly inmate fights and drone deliveries.