The ABC Day Care Center Fire in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, took place on Friday, June 5, 2009. Thirty children died that day and the death toll subsequently rose as additional children succumbed to their injuries. As of June 7th, 44 toddlers and infants were reported killed as a result of the blaze. Five additional children died in the coming weeks, raising the final death toll to 49. Over 40 infants and toddlers and six adults were hospitalized with burns
The blaze started at 3pm (2200 GMT) on Friday, June 5, 2009. It was initially reported that the fire began in a tire warehouse next door and then spread to the child care center. Further investigation revealed that the actual source was a different warehouse, one operated by the state government. Within just a few minutes the fire caused the collapse of a roof section which fell on the children, infants and employees below. One of the first responders on the scene reported that all children were unconscious or dead and there were no sounds of children crying.
Firefighters took two hours to contain the blaze
The investigation determined that the cause of the fire was a malfunctioning of the air conditioning unit in the neighboring warehouse. Also, the warehouse was not equipped with fire extinguishers or smoke alarms.
"The fire was caused by the overheating of an air conditioner due to continuous and prolonged use," said Attorney-General Eduardo Medina Mora. The air conditioner melted its aluminum housing and spread to license plates and paper work in the state government warehouse. The warehouse was closed and empty when the fire started.
There were later suspicions that the warehouse fire was started intentionally.
The investigation revealed that the child care center's fire alarms did not alert staff to the fire because they were installed below a brightly colored ceiling tarpaulin. It is believed that smoke filled the area between the warehouse's high roof and the false ceiling created by the tarp. When the tarp caught fire, smoke and flames collapsed onto the slumbering daycare infants and instantly filled the daycare with thick smoke.
Investigations further revealed revealed that in 2005 the day care center owners had been advised to remove the tarp, widen the main entrance, and increase auxiliary fire exits to bring them up to fire regulation size. Subsequent safety inspections passed without the work being carried out and contracts were re-awarded for the continued operation of the center.
The center was not equipped with water sprinklers which would have automatically engaged in the event of a fire. A marked emergency exit was bolted shut and one mother at the child care reported that no one was able to obtain the key. Hermosillo Fire Department Chief Martín Lugo reported that, although the facility had recently passed a safety inspection, the fire alarms for the building were not installed correctly. Parents stated that although the daycare had 20 on staff, only six were on duty on the Friday of the blaze. In addition, the center was set up for pre-school children aged two to four, but Governor Bours had reported that younger infants were being cared for in the center.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_Hermosillo_daycare_center_fire
The blaze started at 3pm (2200 GMT) on Friday, June 5, 2009. It was initially reported that the fire began in a tire warehouse next door and then spread to the child care center. Further investigation revealed that the actual source was a different warehouse, one operated by the state government. Within just a few minutes the fire caused the collapse of a roof section which fell on the children, infants and employees below. One of the first responders on the scene reported that all children were unconscious or dead and there were no sounds of children crying.
Firefighters took two hours to contain the blaze
The investigation determined that the cause of the fire was a malfunctioning of the air conditioning unit in the neighboring warehouse. Also, the warehouse was not equipped with fire extinguishers or smoke alarms.
"The fire was caused by the overheating of an air conditioner due to continuous and prolonged use," said Attorney-General Eduardo Medina Mora. The air conditioner melted its aluminum housing and spread to license plates and paper work in the state government warehouse. The warehouse was closed and empty when the fire started.
There were later suspicions that the warehouse fire was started intentionally.
The investigation revealed that the child care center's fire alarms did not alert staff to the fire because they were installed below a brightly colored ceiling tarpaulin. It is believed that smoke filled the area between the warehouse's high roof and the false ceiling created by the tarp. When the tarp caught fire, smoke and flames collapsed onto the slumbering daycare infants and instantly filled the daycare with thick smoke.
Investigations further revealed revealed that in 2005 the day care center owners had been advised to remove the tarp, widen the main entrance, and increase auxiliary fire exits to bring them up to fire regulation size. Subsequent safety inspections passed without the work being carried out and contracts were re-awarded for the continued operation of the center.
The center was not equipped with water sprinklers which would have automatically engaged in the event of a fire. A marked emergency exit was bolted shut and one mother at the child care reported that no one was able to obtain the key. Hermosillo Fire Department Chief Martín Lugo reported that, although the facility had recently passed a safety inspection, the fire alarms for the building were not installed correctly. Parents stated that although the daycare had 20 on staff, only six were on duty on the Friday of the blaze. In addition, the center was set up for pre-school children aged two to four, but Governor Bours had reported that younger infants were being cared for in the center.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_Hermosillo_daycare_center_fire