The 22 residents of a Gray assisted living facility were evacuated for about two hours early Monday morning because of a small fire in one room.
The fire at Gray Manor Residential Care on Route 100 started in the room of one resident at about 4:30 a.m. and was put out quickly by staff members with extinguishers, said Bonnie Lee, the home’s administrator. No one was hurt.
Lee said she did not know what caused the fire and that fire officials would make that determination later. She said residents followed an evacuation plan practiced during fire drills. They walked or were helped to the American Legion hall next door, where a head count was done and paperwork on each resident was checked. They then waited there for officials to let them back into Gray Manor, at about 6:30 a.m.
Lee said about half the residents are veterans. She said most can walk but some needed “prompts” to know where to go and what to do.
Lee said the room where the fire was sustained “minimal damage.” Fire crews from Cumberland, Gray and New Gloucester responded, according to a Cumberland County dispatcher.
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