NORTHAMPTON – A fire early Saturday morning on the third floor of CareOne at Northampton displaced 40 patients. They were first moved to different areas of the building, and eventually through the night to other facilities.
Deputy Fire Chief Chris Norris said flames were reported on the third floor of the care center at 548 Elm St. when the first 911 call was received at 12:10 a.m.
The building’s sprinkler system “kept the fire in check” until firefighters arrived, but there was heavy smoke damage on the third floor, Norris said. Investigators were working in the early morning hours to determine the cause of the fire, he added.
One person was transported to Cooley Dickinson Hospital, Norris said, but he did not have any information about who it was or the nature of the injuries.
The 40 patients on the third floor were evacuated first to safe areas in the building, and then officials worked through the night to take them to other facilities. Because some of those patients are not ambulatory, the relocation process is a “prolonged operation,” Norris said.
Multiple fire departments and ambulances were called to the scene, and the American Red Cross also offered assistance.
According to its website, CareOne at Northampton offers a variety of services, including rehabilitation after hospital treatment, long-term care and hospice and palliative care.