Fire Kills Three in Retirement Home
A deadly fire in a Vallejo, CA retirement home killed 3 residents that were staying in the home. Five people pleaded not guilty in Superior Court on Tuesday. All five people own or operate the retirement home and each one faces two counts of manslaughter, two counts of elder abuse causing death and one count of elder abuse.
The fire started when one of the residents accidently left a lit cigar and fell asleep. That resident was among the 3 that were killed in the blaze. The report states that authorities found the fire alarms disconnected because of previous construction in the facility. A hearing has been scheduled for next month in this incident. All five defendants in the case are free on bail as of the time this article had been posted.
Elder abuse is constituted as a crime when direct physical, emotional or financial abuse occurs against an elderly individual. It can also occur when negligence on the part of the individuals caring for the elderly persons causes physical, mental or emotional harm to the elderly individual. In this case, negligence could be argued as the employees of the facility most likely could have ensured the safety of all the residents in the facility. It is the responsibility of nursing home workers to ensure that all residents are safe in their rooms and no potential causes for harm are present.
For more information on abuse and negligence in nursing homes, please visit the Nursing Home Advocates.
