1 Hospitalized in Nursing Home Blaze

A small fire in a bathroom vent sent one person to the hospital at Highland Pines Rehabilitation and Nursing Center Friday morning.

According to Clearwater Fire & Rescue, the call about the blaze at the 1111 S. Highland Ave. nursing home came in around 9:45 a.m. Firefighters discovered the fire originated in a bathroom vent. Although small in size, the fire produced enough smoke to quickly fill up the wing that was occupied by about 12 patients, the agency reported.

While firefighters worked to put out the blaze, nursing home staff relocated patients to another wing.

One person was hospitalized. Three other people on the scene declined medical treatment, the agency reported.

Photo courtesy of Clearwater Fire & Rescue