Dozens evacuated after Fort Lauderdale rehab center goes up in flames, reports say
Dozens of people were evacuated from a Fort Lauderdale rehabilitation center that went up in flames early Monday.
TV news video shows the two-story building at 465 SW 20th Ave. engulfed in flames shortly after 2 a.m. Monday. The address is listed on Google as belonging to TLC Recovery Center South, which is also registered in state records as Evolutions Treatment Center.
Evolutions Treatment Center says it provides alcohol, substance use disorder and behavioral health treatment at facilities in Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Lauderdale by the Sea. It offers a “full continuum of care ranging from inpatient detoxification and residential treatment to a large array of outpatient services,” according to its website.
At least 60 people inside the building were evacuated and moved to another home just south of the facility, according to WSVN. No one was injured and the cause of the fire is still under investigation, Miami Herald news partner CBS Miami reports.
A building that appears to be identical to the one that went up in flames is listed on Evolutions website as a “partial hospitalization treatment” center. The website does not list the building’s address. Partial hospitalization treatment, or PHP programs, are for people who need more intensive mental health treatment than what is typically offered at a doctor’s or therapist’s office, but do not need to be hospitalized with around-the-clock care.
An Evolutions Youtube video shows the facility has a kitchen, couches, bedrooms and recreational spaces including a gym and a pool, with chairs and cabanas.
Besides being an alternative to hospitalization, partial hospitalization programs can help people who were recently released from the hospital or a residential program gradually adjust back to their life, according to GoodRX. Patients enrolled in these programs usually need at least 20 hours of therapeutic services per week and do not need to stay overnight, according to Medicare.gov.
Evolutions Treatment Center did not immediately respond to the Miami Herald’s request for comment. The Herald has contacted Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue to learn more about the fire.
This article will be updated.
This story was originally published July 15, 2024 at 12:01 PM.
