A fire broke out at York Lodge care home on Myrtle Road in Crowborough this morning.
Four appliances, along with command support unit, were dispatched to the scene.
However by the time the crews arrived, all sixteen residents had been successfully evacuated from the building.
Group Manager Katie Cornhill who attended the incident, praised staff. The incident has prompted East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service to remind other residential homes of the importance of having robust evacuation measures in place.
Katie Cornhill said:
At this time of the year, it is important to still have good fire safety management and evacuation procedures in place that are well rehearsed, alongside robust business continuity plans that are also rehearsed.
On this occasion staff passed on the necessary information quickly and effectively, which brought this incident to a successful conclusion and all residents had been safely evacuated by the time we arrived.
We would like to remind managers of other residential, care and nursing homes that good business fire safety advice can be found on our website, which has specific fire safety pages relating to care homes.
Group Manager Katie Cornhill
Care Home Manager Lindsay Filshie said:
They were amazing, every single one of those firefighters. They were so nice, calm and gave us all reassurance. They were outstanding and explained everything, they really did. Thank you.
Care Home Manager Lindsay Filshie
The small fire broke out in the basement at around eight-forty this morning (Wednesday 22nd December).
A fire investigation is now underway to determine the cause.
Crews remained at the scene until just before 11am.
Managers can find life-saving fire safety advice for residential care homes on the ESFRS’s website.
Well done guys, amazing team work to ensure the safety of all your residents