1961 — Feb 1, Mount Vernon Nursing Home Fire, Washington, DC — 7

–7 Arlington Fire Journal & Metro D.C. Fire History (blogspot). “D.C. Nursing Home.” 7-29-2015.
–7 AP. “Washington Nursing Home Blaze Claims Seven Lives.” Cumberland News, MD. 2-2-1961, 1.
–7 NFPA. “Multiple-Death Fires in Nursing Homes & Homes for the Aged, 1921-1978 (list).”

Narrative Information

Feb 2, AP: “Washington (AP) – Seven aged, bedridden patients burned to death Wednesday when racing flames quickly engulfed a four-story private nursing home for the elderly. At least 27 other persons – patients, employees, firemen, policemen and passers-by – were treated in hospitals. Fire Chief Millard H. Sutton called it ‘one of the worst fires in years’ here.

“The seven who died – four women and three men – were in bed on the top floor when the fire reached them from the basement. Their bodies were found either still in bed or on the floor.

“Two nurses, Nancy Cogins and Lucy Cartner, said they were on the fourth floor when the alarm was sounded. They said they managed to drag one of the floor’s eight patients to safety, hoping firemen could rescue the other seven.

“Patients on the first three floors were taken out by employees, firemen and passing citizens. The aged survivors shock and bewilderment evident in their faces, were led to nearby buildings. There they waited their turns for ambulances shuttling back and forth to hospitals. All available doctors and ambulances in the city were ordered to the scene, and many ambulances from nearby Maryland areas were pressed into service.

“At least one woman patient was taken down a ladder about an hour after the flames broke out, despite the speed with which the fire spread.

“The brick building – the Mount Vernon Nursing Home – is located in the fashionable Rock Creek Park area near the Calvert St., and Connecticut Ave., bridges across the park.

“There were 24 patients in the home along with five nurses and two assistants.

“The cause of the fire was not immediately determined.” (Associated Press. “Washington Nursing Home Blaze Claims Seven Lives.” Cumberland News, MD. 2-2-1961, p. 1.)

Arlington Fire Journal & Metro D.C. Fire History (blogspot): “The dead were identified by the Associated Press as:

MRS. ETHEL SCHNEIDER, 70.
MRS. DORA TRENT, 75.
MRS. MAUDE STEVENS, 77.
MRS. ALICE HESSELBACK, 86.
IRA MOSS, 63.
DR. ERNEST F. BURCHARD, 85.
JOHN DRAGUNIER, 90.”
(Arlington Fire Journal & Metro D.C. Fire History (blogspot). “D.C. Nursing Home.” 7-29-2015.)

Sources

Arlington Fire Journal & Metro D.C. Fire History (blogspot). “D.C. Nursing Home.” 7-29-2015. Accessed 10-31-1022 at: http://arlingtonfirejournal.blogspot.com/2015/07/dc-nursing-home.html

Associated Press. “Washington Nursing Home Blaze Claims Seven Lives.” Cumberland News, MD. 2-2-1961, p.1. Accessed 10-31-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/cumberland-news-feb-02-1961-p-1/

National Fire Protection Association. “Multiple-Death Fires in Nursing Homes & Homes for the Aged, 1921-1978 (list).” In: United States United States Congress, House of Representatives. Boarding Home Fires: The Tip of the Iceberg (Hearing before the Subcommittee on Health and Long Term Care, Select Committee on Aging, 96th Congress, First Session, April 25, 1979). Washington, DC, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1979, pp. 312-314.