Senior Nursing Center Evacuated As Crews Battled Fire
Indio police evacuated a senior health care living facility, this afternoon, as fire crews battled a 2-alarm fire in the attic, according to cal Fire.
The fire was reported just before 2 p.m. at the Desert Springs Health Care Facility at 82260 Valencia Road in Indio, formerly the Valencia Palms Nursing Home.
Valencia Road and Sun Gold Street were blocked off.
More than 60 patients were brought out of the hospital as quickly as possible. Sun Bus sent buses in to be used as cooling centers for the patients as fire fighters worked to return power.
At least 23 patients were taken to JFK Memorial, Eisenhower Medical Center and Desert Regional Medical Center for heat related illnesses. Authorities said the injuries were not serious.
Nearly 50 firefighters contained the fire by 2:33 p.m., but the emergency call remained high because of the potential for multiple heat-related emergencies. At that time, the temperature in Indio was 110-degrees.
Investigators allowed everyone back into the building at around 3:05 p.m., and the patients will remain there until authorities determine a better place for them to stay.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but Cal Fire said the fire started in the attic and may have been the result of a electrical malfunction.
