Firefighters were called to Azalea Pl. in the 8300 blk. of 14th Ave. around 10 p.m. Friday.
A fire which originated on the outside of the one-story structure got into the attic, setting off at least one sprinkler head and activating alarms, said Battalion Chief Ryan McNeely Saturday.
Residents and staff were safely evacuated, and the sprinkler system kept the fire in check until firefighters arrived.
Although the water collapsed a small part of the ceiling, the structure itself was not compromised, according to McNeely.
The 19 residents spent the night in a hotel in preparation for transfer to other area facilities run by the company, Frontida Assisted living.
McNeely praised the company for having an emergency response plan in place, and also noted the obvious benefits of having sprinklers in the attic. “It no doubt saved lives,” he said. Also, a fire door limited damage to one wing of the building.
The cause of the blaze has been narrowed to a pair of possibilities, although arson is not one of them, according to McNeely. For now, the cause will be listed as undetermined.
It’s not known how long it’ll take to repair the damage.
