Fire at Bel-Wood Forces Resident Evacuation
By: Andrew Barra WMBD/WYZZ-TV
Updated: April 23, 2012
A fire gives Bel-wood Residents an early morning wake up call.
And quick action prevented the situation from becoming worse.
A small fire becomes a serious one...when you're dealing with a nursing home.
Bel-Wood Administrator, Matt Nieukirk, says, "There was a lot of panic at the beginning. Got a phone call this morning around three - stating that there was a lot of smoke and potential fire int he building."
Resident Imogene Timon says, "I thought it was my alarm clock. I was trying to turn my alarm clock off, and a lady said, 'No that's a fire'."
A small electrical fire started in a physical therapy room inside the nursing home. The fire doors slammed, closing off the fire from the rest of the building. Immediately, nurses started to evacuate all the residents while firefighters tried to put it out.
Resident Barb Ayers says, " They were making it as calm as possible and as safe as possible, because some were rushing to jhelp somebody else."
Residents stayed outside for around 45 minutes. Once the fire was out, nurses got the go ahead to move them back in. The process is something Bel-wood nurses know like their backs of their hands.
Matt Nieukirk says, "We do do evacuation plans and fire drills throughout the year on all three of our shifts, and they did it to the best that they can. They did a great job."
Imogene TImon says, "I wasn't scared a bit. Everything was so smooth. Everyone was so helpful. Just as sweet as they could be."
Barb Ayers adds, "Nobody panicked, it was wonderful."
Residents say the staff's quick action made it easy to move on.
Imogene Timon jokes, " I just stayed up. It was already time for breakfast."
The county is in the process of building the new Bel-Wood nursing home in West Peoria.
Sprinklers are to be installed in every room.
And quick action prevented the situation from becoming worse.
A small fire becomes a serious one...when you're dealing with a nursing home.
Bel-Wood Administrator, Matt Nieukirk, says, "There was a lot of panic at the beginning. Got a phone call this morning around three - stating that there was a lot of smoke and potential fire int he building."
Resident Imogene Timon says, "I thought it was my alarm clock. I was trying to turn my alarm clock off, and a lady said, 'No that's a fire'."
A small electrical fire started in a physical therapy room inside the nursing home. The fire doors slammed, closing off the fire from the rest of the building. Immediately, nurses started to evacuate all the residents while firefighters tried to put it out.
Resident Barb Ayers says, " They were making it as calm as possible and as safe as possible, because some were rushing to jhelp somebody else."
Residents stayed outside for around 45 minutes. Once the fire was out, nurses got the go ahead to move them back in. The process is something Bel-wood nurses know like their backs of their hands.
Matt Nieukirk says, "We do do evacuation plans and fire drills throughout the year on all three of our shifts, and they did it to the best that they can. They did a great job."
Imogene TImon says, "I wasn't scared a bit. Everything was so smooth. Everyone was so helpful. Just as sweet as they could be."
Barb Ayers adds, "Nobody panicked, it was wonderful."
Residents say the staff's quick action made it easy to move on.
Imogene Timon jokes, " I just stayed up. It was already time for breakfast."
The county is in the process of building the new Bel-Wood nursing home in West Peoria.
Sprinklers are to be installed in every room.
