Yates Center community steps up to prevent bigger tragedy from destructive grass fire

YATES CENTER, Kan. (KWCH) - The southeast Kansas community of Yates Center lost its nursing home but thanks in large part to quick action from first responders and community , 38 residents of Yates Center Health and Rehab evacuated safely. Only two suffered injuries, none seriously in Friday’s grass fire that destroyed the facility.

With the building being a total loss, Woodson County is beginning steps to bring a nursing facility back to Yates Center. At a news conference Tuesday afternoon, county officials discussed how first responders and the community prevented this from becoming a greater tragedy.

Among the community who stepped up to save lives was Kaleb Evans who was wrapping up work on a call last Friday when he noticed the smoke and drove over for a closer look.

With fire approaching, Evans saw the evacuation underway at Yates Center Health and Rehab.

“Like a jet engine with the wind blowing, it was over our heads,” he said. “Even though the care home was just a little bit further away, it felt like the fire was on us.”

With no time to second guess, Evans jumped in to help.

“Officers and state troopers were running people out of the building. I stopped and yelled at one of the troopers to say, ‘Hey, let me help you,’ and we started loading people up in vans and buses,” Evans said.

He said one of the residents of Yates Center Health and Rehab is a family friend. He said she was crying and he tried to lighten her spirits with humor as he picked her up out of her wheelchair and put her in a vehicle.

“She looked at me and started crying and I’m kind of a humorous person; (I said), ‘Come on, your butt’s on fire, let’s get in,’ (to) kind of lighten the situation,” Evans said.

The family friend was one of many he helped to safely move to the community’s high school. In the days following the fire, there’s ongoing .

At Superior Building Supply donations for the displaced residents at Yates Center Health and Rehab have been coming in since Saturday, quickly filling an aisle in the store.

“Every time something like this happens in Yates Center, this is the turnout you get,” said Kyle Day with Superior Building Supply. “...They’ve hauled a trailer load of stuff out here every day since.”

Day said it means a lot that people near and far have traveled to help.

“The nursing home here in Yates Center means a lot to Yates Center. They’re one of the biggest employers of Woodson County, so it’s important we get them back,” Day said.

Evans touched on the community pride that’s rallied around those directly impacted by the fire.

“To have the first responders and staff to get everybody out on time; I had people I’ve never met in my entire life helping me load people onto buses,” he said. “In a time of need, the community stood up, and it was just amazing.”

Yates Center Health and Rehab said it has all the material donations needed for the displaced residents. It also launched a fund where people can donate money. If you would like to make a monetary donation you can send a check to:

Mission Health Communities

c/o Nicole Splechter,

PO Box 265

Yates Center, KS 66783