ALFRED — The county of York ”“ or more precisely its insurer, although the county is listed as plaintiff ”“ is suing the Maine Department of Corrections because the department hasn’t paid repair bills after a fire damaged a building the county owns and leases to the state.

The fire took place two years ago ”“ on March 27, 2013, in an industrial clothes dryer at the Southern Maine Re”“Entry Center at 2 Layman Way. The county-owned building is located on York County Jail property and is leased by the corrections department as a transitional program for some female inmates nearing the end of their sentences.

The fire caused smoke, fire and water damage in the building. County Manager Greg Zinser estimated the cost of repairs Monday at more than $60,000.

And while the repairs have been made and the county has been reimbursed for the cost of damages through the Maine Municipal Association’s insurance risk pool, it appears the state has not reimbursed the risk pool in turn, Zinser indicated.

The suit was filed at York County Superior Court by Waterville attorney Peter Marchesi, on behalf of York County government, March 26.

The suit alleges improper operation, installation and maintenance of the clothes dryer. It claims the state breached its contract that spells out it must pay for cost of repair of any damage to the building other than ordinary wear and tear.

About 60 state female inmates were housed at the Southern Maine Reentry Center when the fire broke out.

There were no injuries in the fire, which was reported at 7 a.m. March 27, 2013, according to Journal Tribune stories at the time. The inmates and staff were evacuated. The building’s sprinkler system activated and there was damage to the immediate area and smoke fumes throughout the building.

A Department of Corrections spokesman at the time said it appears the fire was caused by a mechanical malfunction in the industrial clothes dryer.

The state inmates were temporarily housed at the adjacent York County Jail until repairs were complete. Some male county jail inmates were sent to the Maine Correctional Center in Windham to free up enough space for the female inmates, county authorities said at the time.

The five-count suit alleges negligence, negligent supervision, vicarious liability, breach of contract and spoliation of evidence ”“ the last alleging the state removed the dryer and took it to a dumpster in another location before it could be inspected by the county.

The suit names the state corrections department, its commissioner, the manager of the re”“entry center and staff who worked there at the time.

The state corrections department did not respond to a request for comment by press time this morning.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324”“4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282”“1535, ext. 327 or [email protected].