A large fire swept through the Brookdale Clinton assisted living facility on Wednesday, forcing the evacuation of more than 100 residents and destroying a substantial portion of the building, officials said.
Evacuations and search efforts
Firefighters from multiple departments brought the blaze under control by Wednesday night, but crews remained on scene searching the structure to make sure all residents and staff were accounted for. City officials said the facility houses many people with limited mobility, prompting rapid evacuations and concern for residents who use wheelchairs or walkers.
Evacuated residents were transported to a nearby church where family members and loved ones waited. Local television images showed residents, some using walkers and one in a wheelchair, gathered across the street as flames and heavy smoke rose from the facility during the incident. The building’s roof showed signs of partial collapse as firefighters worked to extinguish the fire.
Official response and assistance
Marlee Price-Cook, director of communications for the city of Clinton, said the “majority of the building is gone” and city personnel were working to identify and account for residents whose names had not yet been marked off at the time of the fire. Brookdale leadership was arranging to relocate displaced residents to sister properties run by the company.
“Mississippi is praying for the residents, employees and families affected by the terrible fire at the Brookdale assisted living facility in Clinton. This is truly an awful situation.”
The quote was posted by Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves on his social account, and state agencies including the Mississippi State Department of Health and the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency were assisting local responders, the governor’s office said. Multiple local fire departments also participated in the firefighting and search operations.
Casualties, injuries and accountability
At the time officials reported no confirmed casualties or immediate reports of injuries, but crews continued to search the charred building into the night to ensure everyone was safe. Some residents were already off campus with family or had been checked out earlier in the day.
- Facility: Brookdale Clinton assisted living
- Location: Clinton, about 10 miles northwest of Jackson
- Residents affected: More than 100 evacuated
- Injuries: No confirmed injuries reported
- Building damage: Majority of building destroyed; partial roof collapse
| Item | Known details |
|---|---|
| Evacuation site | Local church (residents bused there) |
| Response agencies | Multiple local fire departments, MSDH, MEMA |
| Company response | Brookdale arranging transfers to sister properties |
Community impact and next steps
Families gathered near the church where evacuees were taken, anxious for information about relatives who live at the facility. Authorities emphasized accounting for residents who had not been marked off when the evacuation began.
Brookdale Senior Living had not responded to messages seeking additional information Wednesday night. City officials said staff and emergency partners would continue the search of the building and work to confirm the status of all residents.
The loss of an assisted living building raises immediate questions about temporary housing for displaced residents, medical continuity for those with care needs, and the longer-term status of the property. According to officials, Brookdale was coordinating moves to other company-operated locations while emergency personnel completed their work on the site.
For now, the priority remains the safety and reunification of residents with their families and caregivers. Local authorities asked anyone with information about residents who may not have been accounted for to contact the city’s emergency operations center.
WE NEWS will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as officials release more information about the cause of the fire, the condition of residents and plans for their relocation.
