Peachtree Centre flunks fire inspection
Some wheelchair-bound residents will have to leave
By LARRY HILLIARD Ledger Staff Writer larry@gaffneyledger.com

As many as 10 Peachtree Centre residents might have to find another facility in which to live after a recent fire safety inspection.

According to Peachtree Centre Administrator Cindy Matthews, an inspector found two wheelchair-bound residents who were incapable of evacuating themselves, which is in violation of a South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control fire safety regulation.

Matthews said there are actually 11 residents who fail to meet the DHEC regulation. All 11 residents are located in the third and fourth floor assisted-living units.

"These residents aren't capable of self-evacuation," Matthews said. "If they are in a wheelchair they don't need to be on a multilevel unit because they aren't capable of maneuvering in a stairwell."

The Peachtree Centre has 30 days to develop a plan to correct the violation. The inspection occurred Feb. 28.

This is the first time the Peachtree Centre has been cited for this violation even though wheelchair-bound residents have lived on the third and fourth floors during other fire inspections, Matthews said.

Matthews said she would like to move the residents to the facility's nursing home located on the first and second floors. But there is only one nursing home unit available, which would leave the remaining 10 residents to look for other personal care facilities. Matthews said more nursing home beds could become available if DHEC extends its compliance period.

Cherokee County Council on Monday approved notifying by letter those residents and their families of the need to seek another elderly care facility.

Matthews said this has been a heart-wrenching experience for her and the residents.

"I just talked to a family member of a resident who has lived here for seven years and they want to stay here," she said. "The residents like it here and want to stay here."