ARCADIA >> Firefighters evacuated 50 convalescent home patients unable to walk on their own Friday after a malfunctioning air-conditioning unit filled the facility with smoke, officials said. No injuries were reported.
The smoke was first reported about 7:45 a.m. at the Arcadia Health Care Center, 1601 S. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia Fire Department Beth Stogner said in a written statement.
Firefighters from Arcadia surrounding cities arrived at the convalescent home to find light smoke emanating from the building, and staff already in the process of evacuating 50 “non-ambulatory” patients, Stogner said.
Firefighters traced the source of the smoke to a malfunctioning air-conditioning unit, Stogner said. Officials immediately shut off the unit and summoned a technician.
Stogner said firefighters then used blowers to clear the smoke from the building.
“Within the hour, the smoke was evacuated and carbon monoxide levels were reduced to zero, allowing patients and staff to reoccupy the building,” she said.