An air conditioning failure at an assisted living facility in Jupiter on Tuesday evening led to the relocation of 138 residents due to unsafe temperatures, according to Palm Beach County Fire Rescue (PBCFR).Addington Place of Jupiter, located on the 1000 block of Community Drive in Jupiter, experienced a central air conditioning outage throughout its four-story building, with multiple rooms reaching 81 degrees or hotter. A WPBF reporter attempted to enter the facility but was blocked by barriers and signs prohibiting entry, along with a phone number to call. Upon calling the number and identifying himself, the reporter was hung up on.The joint assessment conducted by PBCFR, Palm Beach County Fire Rescue's Fire Marshal, Palm Beach County Public Safety's Division of Emergency Management, the Florida Division of Emergency Management, Florida's Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), and the Jupiter Police Department confirmed the unsafe temperatures. AHCA stated that these conditions required the relocation of residents to an environmentally controlled space.The facility activated its Emergency Plan, relocating 60 residents from the Memory Care and Assisted Living areas to other facilities. Responders and facility staff attempted to improve conditions by using portable air conditioning units and taking advantage of the sun going down to lower temperatures and humidity. Despite these efforts, conditions did not improve, with ground-floor common areas remaining above 83 degrees at 9 p.m. and hotter temperatures noted in upper-level floors and rooms.According to PBCFR, a joint decision was made to temporarily cease operations at the facility, and the emergency evacuation plan was activated. All 138 residents were safely relocated to climate-controlled locations.The facility will remain closed until air conditioning repairs are complete and inspections by PBCFR's Fire Marshal's Office, AHCA, and Palm Beach County Emergency Management verify compliance. PBCFR said the facility's management "is being cooperative and engaged throughout the process. They are actively working closely with all responding agencies to ensure their residents' safety and well-being."
An air conditioning failure at an assisted living facility in Jupiter on Tuesday evening led to the relocation of 138 residents due to unsafe temperatures, according to Palm Beach County Fire Rescue (PBCFR).
Addington Place of Jupiter, located on the 1000 block of Community Drive in Jupiter, experienced a central air conditioning outage throughout its four-story building, with multiple rooms reaching 81 degrees or hotter. A WPBF reporter attempted to enter the facility but was blocked by barriers and signs prohibiting entry, along with a phone number to call. Upon calling the number and identifying himself, the reporter was hung up on.
The joint assessment conducted by PBCFR, Palm Beach County Fire Rescue's Fire Marshal, Palm Beach County Public Safety's Division of Emergency Management, the Florida Division of Emergency Management, Florida's Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), and the Jupiter Police Department confirmed the unsafe temperatures. AHCA stated that these conditions required the relocation of residents to an environmentally controlled space.
The facility activated its Emergency Plan, relocating 60 residents from the Memory Care and Assisted Living areas to other facilities. Responders and facility staff attempted to improve conditions by using portable air conditioning units and taking advantage of the sun going down to lower temperatures and humidity. Despite these efforts, conditions did not improve, with ground-floor common areas remaining above 83 degrees at 9 p.m. and hotter temperatures noted in upper-level floors and rooms.
According to PBCFR, a joint decision was made to temporarily cease operations at the facility, and the emergency evacuation plan was activated. All 138 residents were safely relocated to climate-controlled locations.
The facility will remain closed until air conditioning repairs are complete and inspections by PBCFR's Fire Marshal's Office, AHCA, and Palm Beach County Emergency Management verify compliance.
PBCFR said the facility's management "is being cooperative and engaged throughout the process. They are actively working closely with all responding agencies to ensure their residents' safety and well-being."