Fire at Brookdale senior living facility in Clinton, Mississippi, forces evacuations
In short
A fire broke out at the Brookdale Clinton senior living facility in Clinton, Mississippi, on Wednesday evening, and residents were evacuated. A city official said the "majority of the building is gone"; authorities had not yet confirmed that all residents were accounted for.
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A fire broke out at the Brookdale Clinton senior living facility in Clinton, Mississippi, on Wednesday evening, forcing residents to evacuate, according to an Associated Press report carried by The Seattle Times and a Newsweek report. Clinton is about 10 miles (16 kilometers) northwest of Jackson. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Marlee Price-Cook, director of communications for Clinton, said the "majority of the building is gone." She told Newsweek the Clinton Fire Department responded at around 5 p.m. local time to the facility, which houses 102 people. WLBT-TV showed images of orange flames and black smoke rising into the sky, and the roof of the building was partially collapsed as firefighters sprayed it, the AP text said. [ 2 , 3 ]
The reports differ on injuries. The AP text said there were no immediate reports of injuries, but that authorities were not yet certain whether all residents were accounted for, and crews continued to search the building. Newsweek quoted Price-Cook as saying it was immediately unclear if there were fatalities, and that some residents had been taken to local hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries. [ 2 , 3 ]
Residents who had been evacuated were being bused to a church, the AP text said. Newsweek named it as Morrison Heights Baptist Church, where residents were to be reunited with their families. Price-Cook said Brookdale was arranging for displaced residents to be moved to some of its sister properties. The city asked the public to avoid the immediate area so emergency crews could work. [ 2 , 3 ]
Gov. Tate Reeves said in a statement on X that Mississippi was praying for the residents, employees and families affected by the "terrible fire" at the Brookdale assisted living facility in Clinton, calling it "truly an awful situation." He said the state health department, the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency and multiple fire departments were helping with the response and the search of the building. Brookdale Senior Living's website says the Clinton facility includes independent living spaces, assisted living and memory care services. [ 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The reports describe a large fire at a facility housing 102 people, with a search of the building still under way when they were published. The documents do not say how the fire started or whether anyone died.
Key facts
- A fire broke out at the Brookdale Clinton senior living facility in Clinton, Mississippi, on Wednesday evening, forcing residents to evacuate. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Marlee Price-Cook, director of communications for Clinton, said the "majority of the building is gone." [ 2 ]
- Price-Cook told Newsweek the Clinton Fire Department responded at around 5 p.m. local time to the facility, which houses 102 people. [ 3 ]
- Gov. Tate Reeves said on X that the state health department, the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency and multiple fire departments were helping with the response and search. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Evacuated residents were taken to a church, with Newsweek naming it as Morrison Heights Baptist Church. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Clinton is about 10 miles (16 kilometers) northwest of Jackson. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Whether all residents have been accounted for. The AP report carried by The Seattle Times said authorities were not yet certain, and crews were still searching the building.
- Whether anyone was injured or killed. The AP text said there were no immediate reports of injuries. Newsweek said it was immediately unclear if there were fatalities and that some residents were taken to local hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries.
- The cause of the fire. None of the documents gives a cause.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- The Clinton Fire Department responded to the facility, according to Price-Cook. [ 3 ]
- AP published a report headlined that a fire at a Mississippi senior living facility forced evacuations. [ 1 ]
- Newsweek published its report, saying evacuations and secondary searches were ongoing, according to Reeves. [ 3 ]