A fire engulfed a nursing home in northern Mexico, killing at least 16 elderly residents in a pre-dawn inferno that may have been intentionally ignited, authorities said.
Another five seniors had burns and smoke inhalation injuries, while one person was listed as missing after the blaze at the ‘Beautiful Dusk’ facility, which cared for homeless people in the rural border city of Mexicali.
“The people in charge of the facility are looking into the presumption that there was intent (to set the place on fire),” Mexicali Mayor, Jaime Diaz Ochoa told. A possible motive could be linked to ‘problems in management within the civil association’ that operates the nursing home, Diaz said.
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Mexicali fire chief, Fernando Rivera said that the fire broke around 4a.m, after a wooden structure was set on fire and the blaze spread. The facility near the US border was fenced and had safety measures in place, including fire extinguishers and security cameras, officials said. The home
“There are suspicions that are being investigated since the facility’s own managers have made an allegation,” said Baja California state interior Secretary,Francisco Rueda.
The nursing home, which had 44 elderly residents and capacity for 60, was administered by the Cultural Society Promoting Social Welfare, a civil group. After the fire, 23 elderly residents were taken to another nursing home nearby.
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President Enrique Pena Nieto in a tweet conveyed his deepest condolences to the families of the senior citizens who lost their lives in the tragic fire.
Teresa Ortiz, who lives near the nursing home and regularly brought food to the residents, said the smoke woke her up. “When the smell emerged I looked around but didn’t see anything and went back to bed. I thought it was wheat burning,” the 50-year-old said.