Evening star., 1951-09-19
Officials Begin Probe
OF Nursing Home Fire
Fatal 10 Three Aged

montgomery county OlIlcIaE
were to meet today to seek ar
answer for the tragic fire thai
took the lives of three elderly
women at a Colesville (Md) olo
peoples home.
The blaze broke out yesterday
in new wing of the 20-room
wood-frame structure on Colesville
road known as Mrs. Jolliffe's Home
for Elderly Persons.
1t spread rapidly to the main
building, chiefly because f1remen
at first were too busy helping
nurses and attendants evacuate
the homes so patients to bother
with the flames Once they started
concentrating on the fire. they had
it under control in about 80 min
uteS.
Forty-six of the rescued pa
tients were moved to the county's
three hospitals, Suburban, Mont
gomery General and Washington
Sanitarium. One patient was sent
to Walter Reed Hospital.
A check this morning of the
Washington area hospitals and
nursing homes revealed that only
one of the AZ other members of
the home was not in good condi-
ton.
Mrs. Edith Haas, 81, Of 1417
Belmont street NV, has been in
an oxygen tent at Washington
Sanitarium since last night. At
tendantS said she was suffering
from smoke inhalation and shock.
The three who periShed were
Mrs. Merle H. Douglas, 83, moth
er Of Bernard L. Douglas. ST., of
4108 Beecher street street NV:
Mrs. Augusta X. Bashford, 81. a
retired Government employe, and
Mrs. Lydia Margaret Gates, II,
mother of Sherwood Gates. 1927
Massachusetts avenue NV, and
Mrs. Clarence E. Myers Of 1923
Fourteenth street NV.
Shock From Burns.
DR.. Frank j. Broschart, Mont
gomery County medical examiner,
said they died of shock from burns.
Ironically. two Of the three
could have been rescued as the
others were, had it not been for
the confusion that comes to many
of their age.
Mrs. Douglas was carried out
Of the flames but went back in to
get hel favorite rocking chair.
Mrs. Gates broke away from
nurses carrying her downstairs
and ran back into the flames.
Witnesses said many of the
aged, baffled by the excitement,
wandered back into the home
after being rescued and had to be
taken out again
County Fire Marshal Charles
Howe, whose Office is investigat-
ing the fire, called meeting for
today with police, fire under
writers and other fire and county
officials.
The officials hope to determine
what caused the blaze, whether
arson was involved, whether
proper precautions had been
taken and whether the county's
fire code ought to be frightened,
Technically" Safe.
Mr.. Howe, who carried out one
Of the dead, said he has been
scared to death" that something
like this would happen at Mrs.
Jollife's home since it opened In
1948.
He said the institution, a con-
verted farmhouse. technically met
all the requirements Of the fire
code, but mo fire authority In his
right mind could possibly say that
the place was safe" He added
that there are other wood-frame
institutions in the county where
the same thing could occur, but
he declined to name them.
The home has been inspected by
Mr.. Howe about six times in the
last four years, and as a result a
fire escape and alarm system were
installed.
In a report to the County Coun-
ell, made Immediately after he
came from the scene of the trag-
edy, the fire marshal said he last
inspected the home on July "a and
recommended eliminationS of ex-
tension cords more than six feet
long, more frequent fire drills and
installation of two exit lights.
There were sufficient exits. he
added.
Fire Drills Helpful.
Mr. Howe told the council he felt
the fire drills that have been held
at the home were responsible for
keeping the death toll down to
three.
He said the fire started in a
small clothes closet in one of the
four rooms of the new wing, built
two years ago. Blankets also were
stored in the closet, he said, but
there was no electrical wiring in
or near it.
Mr.. Howe estimated damages at
$4,000.
After Mr.. Howe's report to the
Council, County Manager Irving
G. McNayr said study Of the fire
code, which has been underway
for some time, will be expedited.
The Maryland State Fire Mar
Shal's Office also is investigating
the blaze.
DR.. Dean w. Roberts, deputy di-
rector. said the State health de-
partment has been striving to
eliminate fire hazards in Mary
lands 1875 licensed homes for the
aged and chronically i'll.
The tragedy produced many
heroes.
All "a employees of the home
pitched in and helped get the ole
people out. according to Mrs
Margaret Wendorf, sister of Mrs
Jessie Jolliffe. Mrs. Jolliffe wa:
attending meeting of the
Daughters of America in Wash.
u