MOUNT VERNON — A ventilation fan overheated and set fire to the roof at The Laurels nursing center about 8:10 this morning. None of the 25 residents in the northwest wing of the facility were in danger, although all were removed to another part of the building. Staff member Alice Cree said the residents even had their breakfasts.
The Mount Vernon Fire Department responded with two squads and three engines. Assistant Fire Chief Chris Menapace called for a squad and engine from the Fredericktown department, which responded with 10 firefighters and paramedics. A squad from College Township Fire Department also responded.
Firefighters cut a hole in the roof where flames had burned through. Firefighters confined the blaze to the one small section.
Cree said the center’s staff, trained for such emergencies, responded perfectly in evacuating the residents. She also had high praise for the fast response of the MVFD.
Ohio 3 was blocked off both ways for the engines and the use of a fire hydrant located across Ohio 3 from The Laurels. The departments were on the scene until after 9 a.m.
