Early morning electrical fire at Conway senior living center leads to evacuation

Everyone was safely evacuated after an early morning electrical fire occurred at a senior living center in Conway, according to Jeremy Carter, assistant fire chief with the Conway Fire Department.

Firefighters responded to the call about 4:15 a.m. at the Agape Senior Assisted Living Facility, off U.S. 378, after an air conditioning unit in a resident’s room caught fire because of electrical issues, Carter said.

The fire was contained to the air conditioning unit, and there was no fire damage to the facility. However, there was a lot of smoke, and the building wing where the fire started is temporarily closed for smoke removal, authorities said.

Carter said the evacuation process went well because the staff did a good job in exercising an emergency plan already put in place and said most residents were out when rescue workers arrived.

Half the affected building wing will be operational by noon with the entire wing reopening to residents by the end of the day, Carter said.

Horry County Fire and Rescue firefighters also assisted with the incident.

This story was originally published July 8, 2015 at 11:29 AM with the headline "Early morning electrical fire at Conway senior living center leads to evacuation."