rockland, MA – A fire broke out at Webster Park Rehab and Healthcare in Rockland, Massachusetts, Saturday night, prompting the evacuation of 102 residents. Firefighters responded to the scene around 4:30 p.m. after receiving a fire alarm activation and a call from staff.
The fire,believed to have originated in a third-floor nursing station,was contained by the facility’s sprinkler system,though heavy smoke permeated the building. No injuries were reported.Rockland Fire Chief Scott Duffey credited the facility’s staff with a swift and effective evacuation,calling them “the true heroes” for assisting residents,many of whom were bedridden or had limited mobility.
“It’s moving patients that are bedridden…elderly, a little bit less mobile than your younger population. So they did need assistance coming down, mostly carrying them to the second floor and the first floor, where they’d be safe from the smoke,” Duffey explained. Staff members proactively moved residents to stairwells and othre areas with less smoke before the fire department arrived.
Approximately 70 first responders, including support from 10 other nearby agencies, assisted with the fire and evacuation efforts. Duffey noted that Webster Park undergoes quarterly inspections and is “an excellent facility.”
However, residents will be displaced indefinitely due to smoke and water damage caused by the sprinkler system. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.
