Tennessee Nursing Home Fire Prompts Evacuation

Jan. 20, 2005
A pre-dawn fire at a nursing home prompted an evacuation of some residents but no one was injured.
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) -- A pre-dawn fire at a nursing home prompted an evacuation of some residents but no one was injured in the blaze that a firefighter said started in a heating-cooling wall unit.

Fire Department spokesman Bruce Garner said quick work by employees at the Health Care Center at Standifer Place prevented any injuries. He said the fire on the second floor of the Dalton Towers east wing was extinguished when firefighters responding to the 5:31 a.m. alarm arrived.

Battalion Chief Winston Shields said some nursing home employees used portable extinguishers to put out the fire as it spread to an adjacent wall, while other employees evacuated about 15 residents.

Some residents were allowed to remain ''in place'' after employees placed towels at the base of doors to block smoke, Shields said.

The cause of the fire was ruled accidental and damage was minor, Garner said.

He said the building has a sprinkler system but the fire was apparently too small to activate it.

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