BOWIE, Md. — The Prince George's County Fire Department released more information a day after an explosion and fire damaged a senior living facility.
Firefighters were called to the scene of a two-alarm fire at a senior living facility in Bowie, Maryland, early Tuesday morning.
Crews were called the Larkin Chase Center Senior Living Facility at 15005 Health Center Drive just before 4 a.m. After arriving on scene, crews found smoke and a fire in the kitchen. Crews began fighting the fire and evacuating residents from the building. While searching the building, firefighters found a person trapped in an office by debris. Crews were able to safely rescue the trapped person without any injury.
Damage to the building due to the explosion was extensive and evacuated residents were taken to a nearby building.
According to the Larkin Chase Center's website, the facility has 120 beds and is operated in partnership with UM Capital Region Health. A total of 112 people were evacuated, according to fire crews.
While a public information officer said one person was taken to the hospital for evaluation, the fire department reports that none of the facility's residents were injured in the fire.
Deputy Fire Chief Tony Hughes said the two-alarm fire caused about 100 firefighters to respond to the scene. Hughes said many of the residents in the facility were using wheelchairs, which complicated rescue efforts, but no injuries were reported.
Hughes said damage to the building was extensive.
"The majority of the back wall was blown out," Hughes said in a press conference. The damage to the building could take weeks to repair.
A fire investigation team is on the scene working to gather additional information.
Hughes noted the majority of the doors were closed at the time of the explosion and the fire, which helped to keep residents in the building safe.
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