Sweetbriar director calls evacuation of facility 'daunting'

Residents returned to the facility on Sept. 14.

As the holiday farm fire drew close to springfield two weeks ago... the director of "sweet-briar assisted living and memory care facility" said she had to trust her gut -- and evacuate the residents.

Director ivy liszow says the idea of evacuating the facility was daunting -- especially when helping people suffering from dementia.

But after lunch on september 9th -- residents and employees loaded up and headed to their sister facility in salem -- where a bed and dinner was already waiting.

Kayla lease / caregiver "we went up there because we were just trying to not think of ourselves in that moment.

They needed us there, they didn't have anybody to provide their meals or provide their care so that's what we needed to do in that moment so we went.

We are trying to be their family when family isn't able to be around during this time, and they needed us there."

Duration 25" employees also made sure a friendly face was always nearby for those in their care.

The residents returned to the springfield location on