Fire forces 90 people to evacuate sr. living facility

Saturday, July 11, 2009

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No injuries were reported after a fire broke out at a Winter Haven senior living facility. (Slideshow)

POLK COUNTY (Bay News 9) -- At least 90 people were forced to evacuate when a fire broke out Friday afternoon at the Winter Haven Manor Apartments, a senior living facility.

The evacuees were taken to the First Baptist Church of Winter Haven. No injuries were reported.

Winter Haven Fire has recently worked with the residents on training for emergencies like this.

Most residents knew to make their way to fireproof stairwells.

"Those stairwells they tell us those are good for a couple of hours," said resident Miriam Dehn. "So, I didn't really worry about it."

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"We've trained before and had to exit the building but we knew it was just training," said floor fire captain Jean Daughtry, 82. "But this being the real thing it made a big difference."

Daughtry figures her neighbors in the high rise passed a real life test with flying colors.

"I think so. For a bunch of old folks," she said with a laugh.

It's unknown what caused the fire, which started on the second floor.

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