YATES CENTER — A fast moving grass fire spread into the south part of Yates Center on Friday and destroyed a nursing home, but not before residents and staff were evacuated to another location in the community.
The Woodson County Emergency Management Director John Atkin said on social media that the wildland fire was reported at 3:15 p.m. Friday just southwest of South Owl Lake southwest of Yates Center. Strong south winds pushed the fire northward, threatening the community. The Yates Center Fire Department responded, but the wind pushed the fire northward, which prompted the evacuation of Yates Center Health and Rehabilitation. The nearly 40 residents and patients were relocated to Yates Center High School until electricity was shut off. At that point, the residents and patients were transferred to other facilities.
Nikki Jacobs, regional vice president with Mission Health Communities, told the Sun that the residents and patients were transported to facilities in Oswego, Neodesha, El Dorado and Pittsburg.
Atkin said departments from area communities, including Chanute, responded with personnel and equipment. Some of these crews arrived before the nursing home caught fire but the firefighters couldn’t stop the fire’s advancement.
“This is a devastating event for our community, and our hearts go out to the residents, staff and families affected,” Atkin said.
The Kansas Division of Emergency Management also helped secure personnel and equipment.
Heavy smoke and hazardous conditions required U.S. 75 to be closed for several hours. Additionally, power to the city of Yates Center was temporarily cut to reduce risks during firefighting efforts. A first responder rehabilitation center was established at the Community Building, staffed by volunteers and emergency medical personnel, Atkin said.
The fire also ignited shredded tires and a barn south of the Yates Center football field.
The EM office listed these agencies as responding to the fire and its aftermath: Yates Center Fire Department, Woodson County Rural Fire Department, Toronto Fire Department, Chanute Fire Department, Iola Fire Department, Allen County Fire Department, Wilson County Fire Department, Buffalo Fire Department, Overland Park Fire Department, Kansas City Kansas Fire Department, Johnson County Fire Department, Olathe Fire Department, Kansas State Forestry Service and Linn County Fire Department.
These ambulance services responded: Woodson County EMS, Allen County EMS, Anderson County EMS, Greenwood County EMS, Coffey County EMS, and Bourbon County EMS.
These law enforcement agencies responded: Yates Center City Police, Woodson County Sheriff’s Office, Kansas Highway Patrol, Kansas Bureau of Investigation, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Chanute Police Department, Neosho County Sheriff’s Office, Office of the Kansas State Fire Marshall, Woodson County 911 Dispatch, Kansas Division of Emergency Management and Woodson County Office of Emergency Management.
The EM post said the efforts of the responders kept the fire from spreading further into Yates Center on Friday.
“Their hard work today was nothing short of heroic, and we are incredibly proud of their dedication and professionalism,” Atkin said on social media.
Local businesses, churches and residents also stepped forward offering food, water and supplies to first responders, . he said.
“Our thoughts remain with everyone affected by this devastating fire. We are grateful for the safety of our first responders and for the teamwork that helped protect our city,” Atkin concluded.
Woodson County Sheriff Jacob Morrison posted about the fire response on
See FIRE, Page 6.
Fire destroyed the Yates Center Health and Rehabilitation facility on Friday.
social media as well.
“I saw first hand just how much a small community could come together in such a short amount of time. The citizens of Yates Center and Woodson County dropped everything in their lives in that moment and began lending a hand in whatever aspect they could. From helping bring water to firefighters, or blocking an intersection to allow for emergency personnel to arrive to the scene, or just sitting with an elderly resident to help them process the devastation they were all witnessing at that moment,” Morrison wrote.
“The compassion and love in this community is so empowering and I am proud to call myself a resident of Woodson County,” he posted.
The Yates Center Health and Rehab facility staff also posted on social media. The nursing home was built 60 to 70 years ago and was a landmark to the community. It burned down on a day rated at high risk for fire danger because of the wind and low humidity and dry conditions.
“Many of us have been around back when this was originally known as the Autumn Manor Nursing Home originally opened and ran by the Chapman family. God bless Yates Center and prayers for all affected by this disaster.
Thank you to all the first responders for their diligence, hard work and sacrifice battling this blaze,” the center’s post concluded.
Jacobs told the Sun that it’s too soon to tell about damages to the facility and the possibility of rebuilding it. The state’s lieutenant governor was asked for assistance as the city council was to meet Monday to start the talk of recovery for the community.
Jacobs said there were no injuries to staff or residents of the nursing facility.
“We are incredibly grateful for the quick action of our team at Yates Center Health & Rehabilitation, who prioritized the safety of our residents and executed our emergency protocols flawlessly,” said Stuart Lindeman, president & CEO of Mission Health Communities in a prepared statement. “ Additionally, we extend our sincere appreciation to local fire departments and emergency personnel for their heroic efforts in containing the fire and assisting with the evacuation. The well-being of our residents remains our top priority, and we are working diligently to ensure they continue receiving the care and support they need.”
“All families of our residents have been notified and will continue to receive updates,” said Jacobs. “We are committed to ensuring our residents are comfortable and well cared for as we navigate this situation. Our team is focused on supporting our residents, families, and staff throughout this transition.”
Firefighters from area cities handled any fire calls in the community and county while local first responders rested.
The Lapghan Ladies of Arma contributed blankets and quilts to the relocated residents from the Yates Center nursing facility. They reported delivering to 26 residents in the area nursing facilities. The blankets were wrapped in ribbon.
“We have about 12 ladies who have been busy the last few months, snowed in and working on lapghans. We were a little bit ahead of what we normally are at this time of year, which proved to be very helpful in helping the Yates Center residents. We are very grateful to have been able to help them after this tragic event,” according to group member JoAnn Todd.
“As a group, our mission is to give lapghans to area nursing home residents who might otherwise receive nothing at Christmas. Last year, we delivered 230 blankets to 23 Southeast Kansas nursing home residents.”
The lapghan group uses donations to help meet its goals for each year. Each blanket takes about 40 hours of work and $20 to $30 for the yarn. Any donations of cash, gift cards of yarn could be sent to the Arma City Library, 508 E. Washington St., Arma, KS 66712.
