Arson Blamed for Deadly Fire at California Adult Care Home

A fire that tore through an adult care home, killing one man and injuring two other people, was deliberately set, authorities said.

Fire investigators determined that arson caused the blaze at Perris Place Adult Residential Care Facility in Perris, Calif., said Matt Diaz Riverside County sheriff’s spokesman .

Diaz said a call for help from a pay phone shortly after 3 a.m. sent crews to the facility, which cares for physically and mentally disabled adults.

Several people were trapped in the 20-room building when firefighters arrived, county fire Capt. David Hudson said.

Other residents were evacuated and fire crews doused the fire within about 45 minutes. The body of a man was later found in the lobby, Diaz said.

His name was not immediately released.

Two other people were taken to a hospital for treatment of minor burns and about 40 residents were displaced by the fire and taken to a nearby motel, authorities said.

The fire caused $200,000 in damage, fire spokeswoman Massiel De Guevara said.

Source: The Press-Enterprise.