Grays Harbor Scanner has gotten a follow-up press release to an incident we had first posted yesterday evening regarding a structure fire in Montesano at Montesano Health and Rehab. 

Initial dispatch radio traffic had indicated that there was a fire in the roof with smoke and flames visible above the kitchen area where roofers had been working.  While the press release says that the cause is under investigation, while speaking with staff at the facility we have learned that they had a second company on site fixing a prior roofing job and that the roofers had been using a torch to heat up the tar replacing vents.  The fire was in the attic area where this work had been taking place. 

Here is more from the Montesano Fire/Police Department. 

On 09/14/22 at about 5:30 pm the Montesano Fire Department was dispatched to
a fire alarm at Montesano Health and Rehab facility, 800 North Medcalf Street.
Montesano Health and Rehab cares for a variety of patients, from those who are
recovering from injuries or surgery, to those receiving end of life care.

While initial crews were responding, the Grays Harbor 911 center received additional
calls from the facility and neighbors reporting smoke in the kitchen area and smoke
from the roof. The first MFD fire engine arrived at the scene at 5:36 pm and observed
heavy smoke and flames from the roof at the north end of the building. Facility staff
had immediately began evacuating patients at the first sign of smoke. All 77 patients
were safely removed from the facility into the parking lot. There were approximately
29 staff on duty and several neighbors assisted in evacuating patients as well.

Montesano Fire Department crews began an aggressive attack of the fire and requested
additional resources. Approximately 50 firefighters responded from agencies
throughout Grays Harbor and the region. It took just under 3 hours to bring the fire
under control.

The Washington State Fire Marshall’s office authorized a State Mobilization which allowed incident commanders to request additional resources from regional fire departments. Ambulance strike teams from Pierce, Thurston, and Pacific counties were dispatched to assist with patient care and transport. The Montesano School District and Grays Harbor Transit supplied busses capable of transporting patients in wheelchairs.

Most of the patients were transported to Montesano Junior High. Two patients needing a higher level of care were transported to regional hospitals. At this time there are no reported injuries from the fire.

Family members of all of the patients have been notified. The regional Disaster Medical Coordination Center was activated and is currently working on placing patients into other facilities.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.