KANNAPOLIS — Authorities say someone intentionally set a fire at a nursing home that forced residents to evacuate today.
No one was seriously injured in the blaze, the Kannapolis Fire Department said in a news release.
Firefighters were dispatched shortly at 12:30 p.m. to the Kannon Creek Assisted Living Center at 1808 N. Cannon Blvd. They arrived within three minutes and found heavy smoke in the 200 hall of the building.
One room on the 200 hall suffered significant damage. Although evacuation had begun, firefighters assisted several residents out of the facility.
Several patients were monitored for smoke inhalation and one was given oxygen. No patients were transported. Two firefighters were treated on the scene for heat exhaustion. One of those firefighters was transported to Carolinas Medical Center-NorthEast for further observation.
The fire was intentionally set, causing $4,000 in damage, the news release said. As a result, several residents were displaced from their rooms but will be moved to another location within the facility. Kannapolis Police Department investigators have one suspect and their investigation continues.
The Kannapolis Fire Department was assisted on the scene by Rowan County EMS and Rowan County Rescue. The Landis Fire Department provided district coverage.
Kannapolis firefighters remained on the scene to assist maintenance with clean up operations.