Foster Home Director Refutes Investigative Findings
The director of the Haapsalu foster home has categorically rejected forensic findings into last month's deadly fire, which found that the blaze could have been caused by smoking or an open flame.
"I don't know what to say about the prosecutor's report. There couldn't have been an open flame. It's unquestionable," said Eve Kabin to uudised.err.ee.
She explained that the cotton armchair - that experts had said may have provided the kindling for the first flames - was used by a severely disabled boy to put on his shoes. "Any talk about smoking is baseless. It was in a corridor. Can you imagine someone smoking indoors at a care home?" asked Kabin.
Although smoking was technically prohibited on the premises, a designated corner in the yard had been established for smokers, but that was on the opposite wing of the building. "We weren't even allowed to light tea candles during Christmas because the rescue service was immediately alerted. We couldn't have had an open flame, not even a small candle," said Kabin, unable to say what did cause the fire.
Nevertheless, the forensic investigation concluded that the blaze was ignited by an open flame, finding no evidence of electrical appliance malfunctions or flammables. "It could also have been a match or candle flame, but it cannot be ruled out that careless smoking was involved," the prosecutor's press representative, Annely Erm, told uudised.err.ee.
The children were having their midday nap when the foster home first caught fire. Eight mobility-impaired children and two adults were killed in the fire on February 20.
Ott Tammik