Evening star., 1954-12-10
Heater Blamed
In Rest Home
Fatal Fire
Pre-Duwn Bluze
Started in Bedding
Thrown on Device

A gas heater. which investi-
gators said was installed in
violation of Maryland Health
Department regulations. was
blamed yesterday for the Ger
mantown rest home fire that
caused seven deaths this week.
Montgomery County Fire Mar
shall Charles H. Howe, jr., said
the investigation has indicated
the predawn blaze at the Mary
lander Home of Rest started in
blankets or bedding being
thrown onto space heater In
the solarium."
The report was released after
a probe by the county fire mar
shal. the Maryland Fire Under
writer's Rating Bureau, the
State fire marshal and the Ma
tional Board of Fire Under
writers. Announcement Of the
report was made by Mr.. Howe
and Herbert G. Fritz. chief Of
the division of hospitals of the
Maryland Department of Health.
Seven Women Lose Lives.
Four elderly women died early
Monday as the fire swept the
northwest corner of the frame
structure. Three other aged
women died Tuesday. Fifteen
former residents Of the home
still are hospitalized.
The heater. the county fire
marshal said. was installed with
out his knowledge following q
routine inspection of the home
on october %. He said State
Health Department rules state
that stoves and individual space
heaters are a fire hazard and
are not acceptable" in con-
valescent or rest homes.
Mr.. Howe said the heater was
installed on November 8 by the
Parlett Gas Co.. a bottled gas
concern with offices In Rockville.
Mrs. lie Wanna Dickinson,
owner and manager Of the Mary
lander. last night said the heater
was installed to. supplement the
central heating system in the
exposed solarium and porch.
Two Of the first four victims
slept in the solarium. The other
two occupied an adjacent In
closed porch.
Conformed to Rules,
Mrs. Dickinson said the firm
that put in the heater said IL
was installed according to all
standard fire safety regulations.
The company, she said, was most
particular" about safety fea-
lures for the heater. Mrs. Dick.
inson said she paid $I88 extra"
to have the heater installed in
conformity to safety rules.
Carlton Hoffman, manager
of the Parlett Co. in Rockville.
declared the device had the
latest fire safety features, in
Guiding a 100 per cent gas cut
off mechanism and a safety flue
through the roof. He said he
didn't know about the State
Health Department rules for rest
homes.
The October % inspection of
the home. Fire Marshall Howe
said. was the fifth this year.
Other checkups were made on
March 10, May IA. August 10 and
September 80. He said the Oc-
tober check was to determine II
there was water in the swimming
pool at the rest home as re-
quired by fire regulations. There
was.
Water Lost I'm Leaks.
On the morning Of the fire,
however, Mr.. Howe said the pool
was empty. He stressed that
this had no effect whatsoever on
ht-fighting operations. Mrs.
Dickinson said water in the pool
leaked out about two weeks ago
when the pool sides cracked In
subfreezing weather.
Meanwhile. reports are being
compiled today on a complete
resurvey Of safety features in
the IS county institutions in the
rest home. care home and hos
pital category. A. Morton
Thomas, head of the County
Department Of Inspections and
Licenses. said the departments
full corps Of 16 electrical and
building inspectors have COM
pleted a two-day check of fire
safety conditions in the 46 To-
cations.
Mr.. Thomas said decisions re-
garding the Marylander fire and
its presumed cause will await
further conferences between his
office, State health officials and
local investigators.
Calls for Strict Compliance.
Mr.. Thomas told the Mary.
land Federation of Nursing
Homes in Rockville last night
that the county would demand
strict and full compliance with
maximum regulations" from the
institutions.
"A superficial survey indicates
that a large majority are in full
compliance" he said. Particular
attention was paid to the ade-
quacy of heating arrangements
and electrical and building in
stallations, he said. It is up to
the individual operators to CO.
operate by policing themselves,
he added.