WACO (December 1, 2009)—Waco firefighters responded Tuesday to a report of a fire in the first-floor kitchen area of the old Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center building at 3000 Herring Ave.

Most of Hillcrest’s operations were moved earlier this year to the new campus, but 22 assisted-living and rehab patients were in the building.

They were evacuated to the lobby area, primarily because of the smoke.

Crews said the building was cleared by about 5:15 p.m. Tuesday and the last firefighters left the hospital at about 5:30 p.m.

The fire triggered an alarm at about 2:45 p.m. and employees reported smelling smoke.

A second alarm was sounded at about 3 p.m. for additional units and personnel.

The fire started on the grill and kept flaring up, fire fighters said, fueled by grease.

Crews reported just after 3 p.m. that the flames had been extinguished, but smoke filled the much of the second floor of the building and light smoke was reported on the third floor.

A security guard was taken by ambulance to a local hospital, but it wasn’t immediately clear why.