Adult Care/Rehab Center, Hospital/Care Facility Howell, MI – Laundry fire at rehabilitation center controlled with help from sprinkler system July 24, 2015 viking210 A sprinkler system and a fast-acting Livingston County Sheriff’s Department deputy contributed to containing a fire at a Howell Township rehabilitation center late Tuesday evening. Chief Andy Pless of the Howell Area Fire Department said the fire in the laundry room of the White Pine Rehabilitation and Care Center of Howell at 3003 W. Grand River Ave. was reported just before 11 p.m. Tuesday. “An on-duty sheriff’s deputy made entry into the basement and put it out with a fire extinguisher as we were arriving,” the fire chief noted. “We cleaned up the mess.” Pless said the center’s sprinkler system also did its job, helping to contain the fire. When the alarm first sounded, White Pine staff immediately began evacuating the center’s residents. Pless said they had nearly cleared the facility when the all-clear was given for the fire call. “White Pine did a fantastic job in getting residents in and out of harms way,” Pless said. “We were in and out in less than an hour.” White Pine administrator Jackie Jones said she could not comment and referred inquiries to the regional director, who did not return a message seeking comment. According to its website, the more than 2,000-square-foot center “specializes in medically complex and short-term rehabilitation” and offers long-term care for those recovering from surgery or illness or need rehabilitation.
