Irene Stacy's operations continue despite office fire
BUTLER TWP — Despite a fire that damaged the Irene Stacy Community Mental Health Center complex early Wednesday morning, staff members were working and taking appointments at the nearby Sunnyview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center later that day.
“We’re very glad that nobody was hurt,” said Amy Peters, director of mental health at Butler County Human Services. “The staff of the center reacted quickly, and they’re still able to see clients.”
Natalie Ross, the executive director of the center, said the center is waiting to hear from the fire marshal on the cause of the fire, although she said it is believed to be an electrical fire.
The estimated damage cost to the structure of the building is $50,000 to $60,000, although Ross said that doesn’t take into account lost medication and services.
An administrative wing of the building was affected the most by the fire, but Peters said the fire did not damage client or financial files.
Ross said that the undamaged part of the center is expected to reopen next week, but said the damaged wing of the building could take up to four months to repair.
While about 150 staff members work at the center — half of them on-site — about 25 medical workers, administrative staff and therapists worked in temporary office space at Sunnyview on Wednesday.
Peters said many of them were working from laptops in a shared conference room. There are also seven other rooms available at Sunnyview for Irene Stacy staff members to conduct appointments.
“They’re doing the best they can to keep up with operations,” she said.
The remainder of on-site staff were sent home for the day. Peters was unsure what would happen with those staff members in the coming days.
The mental health center on Hillvue Drive has 2,500 clients, with about 100 appointments each day. Its services involve outpatient care, and there are no on-site patients.
Ross said anyone who has questions about an appointment should call 724-996-3693 for information. The center is also accepting donations to help deal with the costs of the fire.
