Smoke Prompts Evacuation At Watrous Nursing Home In Early Hours Of Wednesday Morning [Video]

Moderate levels of smoke prompted an evacuation at Watrous Nursing Center at the corner of Neck Road and Shorelands Drive at 12:19 a.m. Wednesday.

Madison Hose Co. No. 1 Captain Bob Kyttle said the smoke was heavy enough upon arrival to start an evacuation of residents, with the help of staff and medical personnel at the nursing center, to make sure that everyone had the medicine and oxygen they needed.

Kyttle said he called in North Madison Volunteer Fire Co. and firefighters from Guilford to support the operation. Madison police were at the scene as well.

He estimated that about a dozen residents were evacuated in the vicinity of the smoke. "We determined after investigating that the source of the smoke was a fire from a rag inside of a microwave," he said. "Once we determined that, we ventilated, checked for carbon monoxide, made sure the building was safe, and then let the patients come back inside."

Kyttle said the investigation was then turned over the Fire Marshal's office.