Nursing Home Evacuated After Fire

One person was taken to hospital as 14 residents were evacuated from a nursing home in Llanelli during a fire. Firefighters were called to the St Elli Home in Queen Victoria Road at 4am on Thursday after a fire broke out in a first floor airing cupboard. Social services rehoused the residents, three of which were bed-bound, at an alternative home in the town. A spokeswoman for the fire service said the first floor was smoked damaged and the cause was being investigated. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus helped evacuate the residents and the fire was extinguished just after 0500 BST. The man taken to hospital was suffering from smoke inhalation.

Carmarthenshire Council said social workers were talking to the residents and their families to determine the best place for them to stay while repairs were carried out at the privately run St Elli Home.

It said both council and privately-run homes in the area were being contacted to assess whether there were any suitable temporary vacancies for the residents.

Social care executive board member Cllr Kevin Madge said: “I would like to thank all our staff who responded so quickly to the call for help, and who assisted in evacuating the residents so smoothly and efficiently. I would like to reassure the residents and their families affected by this incident that our social care workers will provide every support and assistance we can until they can return to the St Elli home.”