Woodson County and the City of Yates Center have begun clean-up efforts following a Friday fire that destroyed a local nursing home.

 

The dry conditions and high winds of Friday afternoon led to multiple dangerous fires across the state. Among those was the South Owl Fire in Woodson County. Around 3:30 on Friday, the fire began to threaten the Yates Center Health and Rehab residential facility. Woodson County Emergency Management Director Johnny Atkin says a quick response by staff at the facility allowed all residents to be safely evacuated before the fire reached the building. While two residents sustained minor injuries during the evacuation, no lives were lost. Atkin credits the quick work of all first responders.

 

Atkin says things could have easily been much worse.

 

Atkin added that all residents of the care facility have been temporarily moved to other area facilities and the the City is working to secure another facility for residents.

 

Photo: Senator Roger Marshall meets with staff. Photo courtesy Yates Center Health and Rehab Facebook page