- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Fire Reported at SMP-St. Raphael Nursing Home in Valley City
Residents and staff evacuated as crews quickly contained the issue to an electrical room.
Apr. 9, 2026 at 9:27pm
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
An X-ray view of the electrical equipment that powers a nursing home, highlighting the critical infrastructure that must be closely monitored to ensure the safety of vulnerable residents.Valley City TodayEmergency crews responded to a report of smoke inside an electrical room at the SMP Health - St. Raphael nursing home in Valley City, North Dakota on Wednesday evening. Staff members quickly evacuated residents from affected areas as a precaution, and firefighters were able to isolate the source of the smoke, which was a failing motor in the electrical room. There were no injuries reported, and the damaged equipment was shut down until repair crews could address the issue.
Why it matters
Nursing homes and long-term care facilities must have robust emergency preparedness plans to ensure the safety of vulnerable residents in the event of a fire or other crisis. This incident highlights the importance of staff training, evacuation protocols, and rapid response from local emergency services to mitigate risks and protect the health and wellbeing of elderly and disabled residents.
The details
According to Valley City Police Chief Nick Horner, several responding agencies including the police department, fire department, and county ambulance service assisted SMP Health staff in relocating residents from areas affected by smoke as a precautionary measure. Firefighters were able to quickly identify the source of the smoke as a failing motor within the electrical room and safely shut down the equipment.
- The incident was reported shortly after 8pm on Wednesday, April 9, 2026.
The players
SMP Health - St. Raphael
A nursing home and long-term care facility located in Valley City, North Dakota.
Nick Horner
The police chief of Valley City, North Dakota.
Valley City Police Department
The local law enforcement agency that responded to the incident.
Valley City Fire Department
The local fire department that responded to the incident.
Barnes County Ambulance
The county emergency medical services that responded to the incident.
What’s next
Repair crews will be brought in to fix the damaged equipment in the electrical room at SMP Health - St. Raphael.
The takeaway
This incident demonstrates the importance of robust emergency preparedness and response protocols at nursing homes and long-term care facilities to ensure the safety of vulnerable residents. The quick actions of SMP Health staff and local emergency services prevented any injuries and minimized the impact of the electrical issue.
