‘ Save The Last Dance’ then home’s fire alarm went off
Old folk in wheelchairs were pushed to safety after a fire scare in a nursing home.
Staff went running in all directions when the fire alarm went off at Burnfoot House, near Patna.
But they weren’t running away from danger. They were running towards it, to evacuate old folk in wings of the purpose- built home.
The alarm went off during a musical event in the care home’s lounge, with Just Like Eddie providing the entertainment.
Readers may know that Eddie is former Post reporter Edwin Lawrence.
He told us: “I was in the middle of Save The Last Dance For Me when the alarm started sounding.
“I thought someone must have taken ill in a room when I saw staff running towards one of the home’s four wings.
“But a staff member came and told me they feared an electrical fire, and I quickly switched off, and unplugged all my musical gear.”
Fortunately, a fire engine was on the road near the home when the emergency call went out.
It was on the scene within minutes and was later joined by two others.
It soon became clear that the alarm was caused by a hot shower that had been left on.
Steam from the shower went into an extractor fan that eventually overheated.
A firefighter isolated the home’s electricity supply, in case a major blaze erupted.
Others checked out the loft area above the extractor fan.
The emergency occurred in the home’s Afton wing. And residents from both there and the Bradan wing were either assisted or wheeled to safety.
These two wings are on the home’s east side, and residents were temporarily moved to areas in the Doon and Riecawr wings, on the west side.
Edwin said: “Even the cook and off- duty staff were quick to offer assistance to the residents.
“The staff at Burnfoot are really pro- active, helping residents get up to dance to the music.
“The cook had to turn off the gas, as well as the electricity, in the kitchen.
“But she said she would stay on until everything was sorted, to make sure everyone got their tea.”
Burnfoot House is operated by McKenzie Care, and has places for 48 residents in en- suite single rooms.
Fire units from Ayr, Dalmellington and Maybole attended the emergency on Saturday, around 2.30pm.