Times Observer photo by Josh Cotton Lakeshore Community Services has recognized staff and residents for their quick reactions in response to a structure fire at a group home earlier this month. Those recognized by Carl Seeker, right, director of residential programs in Warren and Forest counties include, from left, consumer Joe Rounds, consumer Tina Hoffner, staff Mikayla Sliter and Stacey Allen and, in back, consumer Andrew Theim.

Sometimes it can seem like fire drills are a nuisance, a distraction from what is going on in the day.

But in the case of a Lakeshore Community Services group home, those drills potentially saved lives earlier this month.

A fire broke out in a bathroom of a residential group home at 26 Valley View in Russell around 4:15 p.m. on Dec. 1.

Carl Seeker, director of residential programs in Forest and Warren Counties, said a bathroom ceiling fan overheated, resulting in flames dripping from the ceiling.

Staff “acted quickly and precisely after a fire was discovered… all staff and consumers were safely evacuated from the structure due to the staff’s quick response after being alerted to the fire,” according to a statement from Lakeshore, which also recognized the consumers at the home who “acted bravely and quickly to ensure all made it out of the house safely.”

All included a couple of pets, as well.

Those individuals were recognized Tuesday.

Staff recognized included Mikayla Sliter and Stacey Allen while residents recognized include Joe Rounds, Tina Hoffner and Andrew Theim.

“A terrible tragedy was avoided,” Seeker said, explaining that fire officials said a bathtub where the fire fell likely prevented the flames from spreading to the rest of the residence.

Seeker said fire damage was limited to the bathroom but that there was “soot and smoke throughout all the residence.” A restoration firm has been through the structure and said anything with stuffing — beds, chairs, couches — will likely need to be replaced but that most of the rest can be saved.

It’s projected that it will be two or three months before that work can be completed and the residents can move back in.

For the time being, they’re staying each night at the Days Inn.

Seeker said there’s an adult training facility close to the hotel where the residents spend their evenings, ensuring they get a home-cooked dinner. The hotel is also rotating their rooms every few days to ensure they have fresh spaces to stay.

“They think it’s a vacation,” Seeker said.

He said that Christmas presents for the residents had been purchased but were at the Lakeshore office rather than the house so they weren’t impacted by the fire.

“So they’re going to have a Christmas,” he said.

The whole experience highlighted the importance of the fire drill process.

Seeker said the staff have to complete fire safety training and that fire drills occur two or three times a month, including overnight, at the residences for the residents to prepare.

“When this happens,” he said, “(it’s) just a well-oiled machine.”