The staff at Yates Center Health and Rehabilitation were riding high after learning in early March that their humble one-story nursing home in eastern Kansas was the state’s highest rated.

The team had celebrated a third-straight five-star survey not long before.

But an out-of-control grass fire that swept across the prairie the afternoon of March 14 dramatically changed the fortunes of the facility, its staff and residents.

The fire encroached on the brick nursing home with little time to prepare, leaving Yates Center Health and Rehab a total loss within an hour.

Nikki Jacobs, the building’s former administrator, still lives in the town of Yates Center and happened to be on scene within minutes. Now serving as a regional vice president for the provider’s parent company, Mission Health Communities, Jacobs rushed to help in the evacuation after getting calls about the fire from family members as the danger became quickly apparent to those in the close-knit community.

Staff and volunteers were able to rescue 37 residents swiftly, with the fire ultimately sending just two people, including a hospice patient, to the hospital for ongoing care.

In this episode, Jacobs recounts the early hours on site, how emergency preparedness plans worked — pillows were a key tool — and future plans for a facility that is beloved in its community.

While still determining how and when they can rebuild, Jacobs said Mission is committed to reuniting the team that enabled great quality and an incredible emergency response.