Fire sounds alarm at East Brunswick senior homes Chelsea residents forced to evacuate assisted living facility

Staff Writer

By nicole c. vaccaro

Fire sounds alarm at East Brunswick senior homes
Chelsea residents
forced to evacuate
assisted living facility

EAST BRUNSWICK — Forty-five elderly residents were forced to evacuate The Chelsea assisted living facility, Cranbury Road, Sunday morning after a fire broke out in the building’s basement.

Fire District 1, the Independent Fire Company and Brookview Fire Company, responded to the scene at 9:08 a.m.

"The fire started in a clothing dryer," said Kirk Miick, fire inspector for Fire District 1.

"Luckily, it was contained within the contents of the dryer, so there was minimal damage."

Added Miick, "It took our firefighters only ten minutes or so to put the fire out."

"There were, however, heavy smoke conditions."

The use of six positive pressure ventilation fans were required to clear smoke from the area.

The unharmed residents were permitted back into the building around 9:45 a.m., Miick said.

The only injury reported was that of kitchen worker William Poignonnec, who suffered from smoke inhalation after attempting to extinguish the fire before help arrived.

Poignonnec was taken to the Raritan Bay Medical Center, Old Bridge Division, where he was treated and released, according to the East Brunswick Rescue Squad.

Sunday’s incident, said Miick, was the first of its kind at The Chelsea since it opened four years ago.

"Things went well, other than some of the residents being reluctant to evacuate, which is common," he said. "Still, they got out quickly and did not have to wait long."

Chelsea residents are required to participate in monthly fire drills.

"Those drills certainly paid off on Sunday," concluded Miick. "The employees and residents knew exactly what to do."