by North Forty News Staff | NorthFortyNews.com
Staff evacuates 30 residents safely during lightning storm and hailstorm response
FORT COLLINS – Poudre Fire Authority (PFA) firefighters responded Tuesday to a fire in the attic of a memory care facility in the 5050 block of South Lemay Avenue. Crews arrived amid an active hail and lightning storm, working quickly to locate and extinguish smoke and flames reported in the building’s roofline.
Staff members safely evacuated 30 residents to another wing of the facility, where they were assessed for potential smoke inhalation or medical needs. No injuries were reported. Firefighters searched the attic and confirmed the fire had not extended into the walls or ceilings. Ventilation was conducted in affected rooms, and residents were expected to return later in the evening.
“This facility has a complex roof line, and we were dealing with a continuing lightning storm,” the incident commander said. “We had to pull people off because of the storm and then reorient to search from the inside.”
The small fire was contained to the peak of the attic, with most of the damage limited to the upper and exterior portions of the roof. A fire investigator is reviewing the cause, which remains under investigation.
Community Impact
For Fort Collins residents, the incident highlights the importance of emergency preparedness in senior and memory care facilities. PFA credited the quick work of staff and first responders for preventing further damage and ensuring residents’ safety during the storm.
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Attribution: Source – Poudre Fire Authority