Staff Report

A female resident of Pinebrook Residential Center in Yadkinville has been charged with first degree arson in connection with a fire at the complex Sunday.

Robin Doreen McNeely, 47, was charged early Monday with first degree arson by the Yadkinville Police Department. She was being held under $10,000 bond Monday.

The fire broke out in a resident's room at the men's dormitory of facility for the elderly, mentally ill and mentally handicapped individuals around 7:30 p.m., Fire Chief Bryan Southard said.

The facility's executive director, Jamie Sparks, said one of the staff called the fire department.

The fire chief said Sunday night a bed in the room was on fire when fire fighters arrived, but the main cause of the fire was still being investigated.

The police department said Monday the exact source of ignition had not been determined but investigators believed it was intentionally set.

The building was occupied, but no one was in the room at the time fire fighters entered.

Damage estimates were unknown Monday. Police said there was no obvious structural damage, only smoke damage to the room, personal property and the bed.

Residents were evacuated to a multi-purpose building across from the dormitory. No injuries were reported, but one person was taken to the hospital for reasons unrelated to the fire.

Southard said Sunday that workers at the center did an exceptional job getting residents out of the building and to safety. "We got here to make sure everybody was evacuated. The staff here had most of the people evacuated when we got here. We dragged the bed outside and extinguished it and put the fire out in the room and got the smoke out," Southard said.

Assisting in the incident were the Yadkin County EMS, the rescue squad and Courtney and Forbush fire departments.

Sparks said the complex houses about 75 individuals. "They are a little upset," she said Sunday, but all were OK.