ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. — Dozens of seniors were displaced after a Sunday night fire at The Blake at St. Johns, an assisted living and memory care facility in St. Johns County.
Fire officials said the fire started around 9 p.m. after lightning struck the roof, sending flames down a chimney.
The fire displaced 50 residents on the memory care side of the facility while crews began repairs. By daylight Monday, shattered windows could be seen on one side of the building.
Friends and family members of residents have been showing up to help their loved ones while they figure out what comes next.
One man said off camera that he has been trying to find a new facility for his mother, but the closest option he has found so far is in Georgia.
Kim Griffin, a caregiver for one of the residents, said she has been caring for her friend at the facility for nearly two years. She said the disruption has been especially difficult for memory care residents.
“I felt very bad because they obviously don’t know what’s going on, and it makes them more confused than they already are, and they’re displaced,” Griffin said.
Griffin said residents are staying on cots in the dining room of the assisted living area with help from the Red Cross.
“It’s hard. They don’t know what’s going on. They just know something’s disrupted their routine and routine’s a lot to them,” Griffin said.
St. Johns County Fire Rescue said one patient was taken to the hospital, but officials said that person was suffering a medical emergency unrelated to the fire.
We reached out to staff at The Blake at St. Johns for more information on when residents may be able to move back in and how long repairs could take, but we didn’t hear back.
>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<
[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]
[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
