SILVERTON, Ohio --
Firefighters had more than the heat to deal with Thursday at a nursing home fire in Silverton. Fire crews had to help evacuate 94 residents from the Garden Gate nursing home after the fire was reported just after 1 p.m.
I just looked out the window and saw three or four of the nurses bringing out the wheelchairs and then next thing you know it was like three and four more and three and four more and I was like, Oh my God, something is going on, said neighbor Mary Ann Dryer.
Medic units from other fire departments were called to the scene to help the residents stranded outside in the near-100 degree temperatures.
Metro sent buses to the scene to help keep the residents cool and help transfer some residents to other nursing homes, and at least 40 of them have been sent to a nursing home in Hamilton. No injuries have been reported so far, but authorities said three residents were transported to a hospital as a precaution. Investigators said the electrical fire started on the roof of the nursing home, which cut power inside, shutting off the building's air conditioning and medical equipment.
"All I know is the electric went off, my oxygen went off first," said resident Pearl Edwards.
Nurses and emergency personnel provided water and other assistance to residents, some of whom waited outside for around three hours to be taken to another facility.
To check on relatives who live at the facility, call 513-825-2700.
