Police and fire services are at Ford open prison near Arundel, West Sussex, after a riot broke out, the Prison Service has confirmed.
In a statement, the Ministry of Justice said that around 40 prisoners began smashing windows and setting fires in some buildings.
A spokesman said that prison service staff were forced to retreat.
He added: “We have no reports of any injuries to staff or prisoners at this stage.”
The prisoners involved also set off fire alarms at the prison.
Ford is an open prison housing category D inmates.
The spokesman said: “Specialist teams of prison officers have been called in to deal with the incident.”
HMP Ford accepts offenders who have under two years left to serve on their sentences.
The Prison Service website says that the institution – which can hold up to 557 inmates – does not house criminals who have been convicted of arson, some sexual offences, or restraining offences.
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