After fire, Kentwood senior living community thanks first responders

KENTWOOD, Mich. (WOOD) — A West Michigan senior living community is thanking first responders for their efforts during a recent fire.

On Aug. 15, a fire broke out at American House Kentwood, located at the intersection of Eastern Avenue SE and 60th Street SE.

“I ran out of my office and I saw smoke coming from the attic,” said Megan Burch, executive director of American House Kentwood. “And I ran into our memory care unit and I yelled to the staff this wasn’t a drill.”

The fire started while a third-party HVAC company was doing maintenance work. Before the fire could spread too far, Burch said staff began evacuating residents from the building.

“We were just moving residents from the living room out the front door. Once the residents were out of the living room, we went hallway by hallway and got residents out of their room,” Burch said.

Fortunately, everyone inside the building made it out safely.

“As I’m calling families, they’ve already learned that the building is on fire and hearing them crying as I’m telling them their loved one is okay was just heartbreaking, but rewarding at the same time, knowing that their loved is safe,” Burch said.

The fire required a large response from firefighters. Crews from Kentwood’s Fire Station 3 were the first on scene.

“The engine in this house was on scene in four minutes,” said Chief Brent Looman with the Kentwood Fire Department. “We knew we had to get to the roof and get a hole in the roof, and we knew we needed additional help.”

Eventually, firefighters were able to put the blaze out.

On Friday, residents who were inside the building visited Fire Station 3 with handmade signs to thank the firefighters for their efforts.

“We know some of these residents already from running down to that facility on EMS calls and it’s really neat to see them on a good day,” Looman said.

Burch said most residents have been moved to other American House facilities.

“Staff has been great helping them. So there hasn’t been any ill effects,” Burch said.

She said it was crucial to thank the firefighters who helped that day.

“They spent six hours working on a scene that was terrifying,” Burch said. “So we wanted to really show our appreciation.”

Burch added that at this time, it’s unclear what will happen with the property that caught fire.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.