1963 – Sep 17, fire, Paradise Pines Rest Home (men in 80s), 14 miles south of Riggins, ID–7

–7 AP. “Furnace Seen as Cause of Home Blaze.” Idaho State Journal, Pocatello. 9-19-1963, 15.
–7 AP. “Inquest Called in Home Fire.” Idaho State Journal, Pocatello, ID. 9-18-1963, p. 1.
–7 AP. “Seven Idahoans Die in Rest Home Fire…Near Riggins.” Idaho State Journal. 9-17-1963, p. 1.
–7 NFPA. “Summary of Fire Deaths in Hospitals, Nursing Homes and Homes for the Aged.” 1963, p313.

Narrative Information

Sep 17, AP: “Riggins, Idaho (AP) – Seven patients, all men in their 80s, died today in an early-morning fire that burned a mountain rest home to the ground. About 35 others were evacuated safely.

“Mrs. Lucille Fry, the head nurse, saw the flames shortly before 4 a.m. and summoned nurses from nearby cottages to help get the patients out. The seven who perished were all in the south end near where the fire started. Robert Salter, operator of the Paradise Pines Rest Home, said all the victims could walk, but apparently were overcome by smoke.

“The home is about 144 miles south of Riggins on the Little Salmon River in west central Idaho.

“The dead were identified as John Passe, McCall; John Zietlow, Cascade; Joe Bogle, Cottonwood; Dan Stowe, Grangeville; Frank Rowland, McCall; Otto Korbin, Riggins and John Brodahl, New Meadows….

“‘They couldn’t be saved,’ said Salter. ‘It was such a short period after it started until it was engulfed in flames.’….Salter said that ‘everything was gone’ within 25 minutes after the fire was discovered….He said the fire was fanned by a stiff breeze.

“The rest home, a one-story wooden structure, was about 200 by 200 feet in size. Salter said the home was in its sixth year of operation….” (AP (Associated Press). “Seven Idahoans Die in Rest Home Fire. Blaze Ousts 35 Others Near Riggins.” Idaho State Journal, Pocatello. 9-17-1963, p.1.)

Sep 18, AP: “Riggins, Idaho (AP) – A survivor of a fire that leveled a frame rest home near here has credited the ringing of an automatic fire alarm bell with saving his life and that of his roommate.

“Meanwhile, Adams County Coroner Gene LaFay has ordered an inquest into the holocaust which claimed the lives of seven elderly men and left 30 other patients homeless. Prosecuting Attorney Carl Swanstrom said the date for the inquest will be set after three members of the rest home staff are physically able to testify. He said Tuesday that they were in such a state of shock that they could not yet be questioned….

“Swanstrom said the blaze was apparently touched off by an overheated wood furnace near the center of the 100 by 200 foot building and not far from the annex where the seven victims were sleeping….

“…the rest home was licensed by the State Health Department as a nursing home.” (Associated Press. “Inquest Called in Home Fire.” Idaho State Journal, Pocatello, ID. 9-18-1963, p. 1.)

Sources

AP (Associated Press). “Furnace Seen as Cause of Home Blaze.” Idaho State Journal, Pocatello, ID. 9-19-1963, p15. Accessed 8-3-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/idaho-state-journal-sep-19-1963-p-14/

AP (Associated Press). “Inquest Called in Home Fire.” Idaho State Journal, Pocatello, ID. 9-18-1963, p. 1. Accessed 8-3-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/idaho-state-journal-sep-18-1963-p-1/

AP (Associated Press). “Seven Idahoans Die in Rest Home Fire. Blaze Ousts 35 Others Near Riggins.” Idaho State Journal, Pocatello. 9-17-1963, p. 1. Accessed 8-3-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/idaho-state-journal-sep-17-1963-p-1/

NFPA (National Fire Protection Association). “Summary of Fire Deaths in Hospitals, Nursing Homes and Homes for the Aged.” Pp. 311-313 in: U.S. House of Representatives. Fires in Boarding Homes: The Tip of the Iceberg (Hearing before the Subcommittee on Health and Long-Term Care of the Select Committee on Aging). April 25, 1979.