Alma Plunkard and Candice Codispot, employees of New Haven Court Nursing Center, showed what quick thinking is all about by way of their actions Feb. 12 in response to a small fire in one of the home's apartments.

Plunkard used a dry chemical extinguisher to put out the flames, while Codispot helped the apartment's occupants, Jim and Mary Fudoli, to safety. Meanwhile, 15 residents who live in a front wing at the nursing home were evacuated to an area behind a fire door but did not have to leave the facility.

The 61 other residents who reside in other wings at the home were not threatened by what occurred.

Speaking of Plunkard and Codispot, Mark Lauer, chief of the Unionville Volunteer Fire Department, said "they prevented what could have been a catastrophic outcome."

"The staff did a real nice job and actually saved the day," Lauer said.

The nursing home had been conducting fire drills on all work shifts during the month prior to the fire. The incident in question reinforced the fact that such drills are never a waste of time.