CLINTON — Two people died in a fire at a Clinton assisted living facility on Wednesday night.
Firefighters rescued residents through windows as a fire swept through Brookdale Clinton on East Northside Drive, destroying two wings of the building and forcing residents to evacuate.
The fire broke out shortly after 5 p.m. Clinton Fire Chief Levius Buckley told reporters that two wings of the facility were a total loss.
Hinds County Coroner Jeramiah Howard said that an 82-year-old male and an 81-year-old female died in the fire.
Firefighters from multiple agencies responded to help the Clinton Fire Department battle the blaze, including the Jackson Fire Department, Hinds County Volunteer Fire Departments and several retired Clinton firefighters.
Crews conducted searches of the facility as they worked to bring the fire under control.
Residents were taken by bus to Morrison Heights Baptist Church on Hampstead Boulevard, where they were reunited with their families.
The Mississippi State Department of Health and Mississippi Emergency Management Agency also worked with first responders during the emergency.
Officials have not released the number of residents or employees who were inside the facility when the fire started.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Buckley said investigators do not believe the fire was intentionally set.
Gov. Tate Reeves issued a statement Wednesday evening expressing concern for those affected.
“Mississippi is praying for the residents, employees and families affected by the terrible fire at the Brookdale assisted living facility in Clinton,” Reeves said.
Families seeking information about residents can go to Morrison Heights Baptist Church or call 601-926-1224 to speak with a Brookdale representative.
The investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing.
