Lexington Rescue Mission evaluates serious damage to center after fire injures one
One person was injured in a fire early Thursday that significantly damaged and subsequently shut down the Lexington Rescue Mission.
The Lexington Fire Department responded to the rescue mission building in the 400 block of Glen Arvin Avenue around 4:30 a.m. When firefighters arrived, flames were coming out of the building, Batallion Chief Jordan Saas said. One person was taken to a local hospital, and fire officials were unsure of the victim’s condition. The fire was extinguished in under 20 minutes, Saas said.
The fire was called in by someone in a home across the street, Saas said. A fire investigator reviewed the scene, and the cause of the fire was being determined, Saas said. The cause of the fire was still being investigated Friday morning, Saas said.
A representative from the Lexington Rescue mission said the fire caused “some significant damage.”
“The fire started on the outside of the building and then moved into the building, primarily damaging our dining room and kitchen,” said Kim Livesay, director of development. “We are currently closed as we evaluate the damage.”
The building was closed and there were no staff members on site at the time of the fire, so the person injured didn’t work for the rescue mission, Livesay said.
The Lexington Rescue Mission provides community meals, including breakfast and lunch, Monday through Saturday. The mission was providing the meals via carryout during the COVID-19 pandemic, but people without daytime shelter were allowed to stay at the outreach center.
This story was originally published November 12, 2020 at 7:40 AM.