BATESBURG-LEESVILLE, S.C. — Authorities say a Saturday afternoon fire has impacted several residents at an assisted living facility in Batesburg-Leesville.
Police Chief Darren Amick, who spoke with fire officials at the scene, said the fire happened at Generations of Batesburg at 111 Generations Boulevard. Amick said the fire call came in around 5:20 p.m. and involved the "Gen Two" building at the facility. Crews responded to the fire and had it under control around 6:10 p.m.
Amick said there were no reported serious injuries or people taken from the scene for treatment. He said two employees were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation.
It is unclear how many building residents will be displaced by the fire, but Mayor Lancer Shull said the facility had informed him that they were able to move everyone who was impacted to other locations. Based on the roster, Chief Amick said about 52 people live in that section of the facility. Fire Chief Josh Frye confirmed that 17 units were impacted in the fire. Most, he said, were occupied by two people.
Mayor Shull said the facility's staff was contacting family members of everyone affected by the fire. He added that staff members were able to return to the building to retrieve medications for residents.
The mayor said it was a "miracle" and an "act of God" that the situation didn't turn out far worse. He also commended the firefighters from Batesburg-Leesville and surrounding departments for working together to get the fire under control. Chief Frye said numerous departments across Lexington and Saluda counties responded to the fire.
Investigators are still working to determine how the fire began, but preliminary information suggests it was likely accidental, Chief Frye said. He characterized the damage to the building as "extensive."
