100 residents evacuate Pasadena affordable housing facility

Approximately 100 people had to evacuate from Pasadena assisted living facility following a power outage that activated a sprinkler, flooding the facility overnight, according to published reports.

The Pasadena Fire Department responded around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday to 235 E. Holly St., where firefighters found sprinklers spraying water and causing extensive flooding in 11 units on the facility’s three floors, Pasadena Fire Chief Chad Augustin said.

Many of the residents at the Centennial Place apartment building — a 144-unit affordable housing facility owned and operated by Union Station Homeless Services — have physical or mental health conditions and were evacuated. Fox 11 reported several residents were allowed to return early Wednesday morning.

“Many of the people here are struggling with mental health challenges or some sort of a disability challenge,” Augustine told Fox 11.

The Salvation Army and the Los Angeles County Emergency Management Department were notified to assist residents who had to evacuate.

“It’s horrible. It’s an inconvenience. People that can’t be out here, need to be inside. For people that can’t walk or are disabled it’s hard for them to come down these stairs because the elevator is not working on the 4th floor of the building, that’s ridiculous,” resident William Harris told Fox 11.

Pasadena fire officials said the apartment complex is set for renovation in October, which is why the building was not fully operational.