Kansas Moving Mental Patients for Fire Safety Issues

Kansas plans to move about 30 patients out of a state mental hospital in Kansas City so that it can be renovated to address fire safety issues.

The Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services announced Wednesday the patients will be moved Nov. 9 from the Rainbow Mental Health Facility to Osawatomie State Hospital.

Rainbow was built in 1973 and has 36 beds, making it the state’s smallest facility for the mentally ill.

SRS says Rainbow needs about $500,000 worth of renovations, including a new sprinkler system. The agency said it began examining the building when an inspection by the state fire marshal found multiple problems last month.

The work is expected to take up to eight months.