NEWTON, Kan. (KAKE) - From across the street, staff at Paramount Community Living and Rehab could see clouds of black smoke blowing their way.
"We heard a boom," said Paramount executive director Gretchen Sapp. "And we looked to see what was going on and saw smoke. And so we began watching and paying attention to the buildings around our campus. And preparing in case we needed to do something."
Sapp says training prepared her and her staff.
"When they thought it would be wise for us to make some transitions with residents and how far and it's worked really well," Sapp said. "The team is really trained for this kind of thing. We participate in training countywide. So it's worked the way it's supposed to work."
The fire and smoke were coming from just south of the facility after a semi crashed into a car.
Just a few blocks north, the South Breeze Elementary School reacted.
The school notified parents that students would be kept inside of the building out of an abundance of caution, and many parents, like 2nd-grade parent Colten Hoffman, chose to come and pick their kids up.
"I was a little bit worried because I live pretty close to where the fire is just over here on the other side of the highway."
Hoffman managed to pick up his 2nd-grade son safely.
"I'm actually delivery driver. I heard like popping and stuff. And we pulled over and asked what was going on?"
As the fire was going on, several of the bus routes were blocked off. Because of this, some students at the Santa Fe Center were taken to the gymnasium at South Breeze for parent pick-up.