Thursday marks five years since parts of the assisted living complex once known as Sterling House burned to the ground after a fireworks-related incident.
Amazingly, there were no injuries when fire broke out shortly after the city of Emporia’s fireworks celebration ended. Smoke and flames were coming from the roof as fire crews arrived. Emporia Fire Battalion Chief Rich Gould was the fire commander on duty that night.
Crews from Americus and Olpe spent almost six hours on the scene to knock down the initial fire and numerous hot spots. Ultimately, the middle third of the building collapsed, with heavy damage to the east side — but all 21 residents made it out safely. Eventually, it was determined spent fireworks as part of a private show at the facility were not properly extinguished.
The facility has changed names now twice since that blaze, being initially renamed as Brookdale Emporia before taking on its current name of Emporia Place. Current management says there will be no fireworks display at the facility, saying the safety of residents comes first.
KVOE News file photos
{gallery}Sterling House Fire 2014{/gallery}
