Update: Weekend Fire at St. Gertrudes Temporarily Displaces Residents

A small fire in a kitchen area at  Saturday caused staff to evacuate residents from their second-floor rooms, according to Shakopee Fire Department officials.  

"No residents or firefighters were injured," said to Captain and Fire Marshal Tom Pitschneider.

Firefighters were called to a fire at 7:06 a.m. April 21, on the second floor of the Transitional Care Unit, according to Pitschneider. An employee called 911 to report the fire and said it was in a second floor kitchen and was contained. 

Firefighters arrived and found significant smoke on the second floor and used a water can to extinguish the remaining fire. Firefighters then ventilated the building. 

Pitschneider said the fire began when a staff member placed a plastic dishwasher tray on top of an electric stove. At some point one of the stove's burners was turned on, causing the plastic tray to melt and catch fire.

Staff was able to keep the fire contained to the stove top and was able to safely evacuate residents from the second floor rooms. Some staff members suffered minor smoke inhalation injuries due to the use of portable fire extinguishers, Pitschneider said.

Thirteen resident rooms remained unoccupied while clean-up of the area was completed. All residents have since returned to their rooms.

St. Gertrude's officials said staff responded appropriately in extinguishing the fire, notifying emergency services and evacuating the patients.

"Our staff did a fantastic job and we appreciate the rapid response of the Shakopee Police and Fire Departments," St. Gertrude's said in a statement.

St. Gertrude's provides long-term care, hospice services, assisted living, and rehabilitation for patients recovering from orthopedic surgeries, cancer, and motorcycle and vehicle injuries. Patients stay an average of 18-20 days.