Minn. Nursing Home Resident, 80, Dies After She’s ‘Fully Engulfed' in Motorized Scooter Fire

Mar. 15, 2025

Mobile scooter fire led to the death of an 80-year-old nursing home resident.Photo:Getty

Getty

An 80-year-old Minnesota nursing home resident has died from her injuries after a fire started earlier this week while she was on her motorized scooter, authorities said.On Monday, Jan. 6, at approximately 4:38 p.m. local time, authorities responded to a 911 call after Marjorie Jane Hible, of Ely — who was a resident of the Boundary Waters Care Center — “suffered severe burns” when a fire started while she was sitting on the vehicle outside the facility,according to a news releasefrom the Ely Police Department.Police said emergency personnel were dispatched to the home after “a witness reported” the blaze.Boundary Waters Care Center in Ely, Minn.Google Maps"The report stated the victim was fully engulfed before staff members were able to get the person off the scooter," police said, later identifying the “victim of this tragic fire” as Hible.Hible died from her injuries after being taken for medical treatment, police said.“One staff member received non-life threatening injuries and was treated and released from the hospital,” police said.While the investigation is ongoing, “preliminary findings suggest smoking likely caused this accidental fire,” police said in a Wednesday, Jan. 8, update.“The Ely Police Department offers support and sympathy to the family, friends and caregivers of Marjorie.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.Police thanked the Ely Fire Department and other first responders for their help.

An 80-year-old Minnesota nursing home resident has died from her injuries after a fire started earlier this week while she was on her motorized scooter, authorities said.

On Monday, Jan. 6, at approximately 4:38 p.m. local time, authorities responded to a 911 call after Marjorie Jane Hible, of Ely — who was a resident of the Boundary Waters Care Center — “suffered severe burns” when a fire started while she was sitting on the vehicle outside the facility,according to a news releasefrom the Ely Police Department.

Police said emergency personnel were dispatched to the home after “a witness reported” the blaze.

Boundary Waters Care Center in Ely, Minn.Google Maps

Google Maps

“The report stated the victim was fully engulfed before staff members were able to get the person off the scooter,” police said, later identifying the “victim of this tragic fire” as Hible.

Hible died from her injuries after being taken for medical treatment, police said.

“One staff member received non-life threatening injuries and was treated and released from the hospital,” police said.

While the investigation is ongoing, “preliminary findings suggest smoking likely caused this accidental fire,” police said in a Wednesday, Jan. 8, update.

“The Ely Police Department offers support and sympathy to the family, friends and caregivers of Marjorie.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.

Police thanked the Ely Fire Department and other first responders for their help.

source: people.com