Title: Four Die in Fire at ELCA Group Home
ELCA NEWS SERVICE NEWSBRIEF
August 21, 1996
FOUR DEAD IN GROUP HOME FIRE
Three residents and a counselor died in an early morning fire
Aug. 20 at a group home in Exton, Pa. The home for
developmentally disabled is operated by Ken-Crest Centers,
Plymouth Meeting, Pa., a social ministry organization of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. "This tragedy shocked
the agency," said William J. Nolan, Ken-Crest executive director.
"In our 91-year history, never have we experienced such a
tragedy." The four victims were the only people staying in the
single-family, ranch-style house. Two men, ages 38 and 57, had
lived in the home since it opened twelve years ago. The third
man, 33, moved into the home in 1990. All three worked through
Ken-Crest's employment services. The fourth victim was a 23-
year-old woman, a counselor. Two of the victims used
wheelchairs. "We share with the families' grief and are making
every effort to find out exactly what happened," said Nolan.
West Whiteland Township Deputy Fire Chief George Turner told the
Associated Press the blaze apparently started in the kitchen. He
said smoke detectors and fire alarms were silent when
firefighters arrived around 2:30 a.m. and the fire had been
burning for some time. The four died of smoke inhalation.
For information contact: Ann Hafften, Dir., ELCA News Service,
(312) 380-2958; Frank Imhoff, Assoc. Dir., (312) 380-2955
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