Fire saftey

LONDON, Ont. -- Their lives ended in smoke, fear and confusion, trapped by disability in retirement and nursing homes with no plans to get them out safely. Fires have taken a deadly toll in Ontario facilities for seniors -- 48 deaths in all since 1980 -- but despite a push by inquest juries and firefighters for safety measures, little has changed -- and the Ontario Fire Marshal's office is recommending citizens screen homes for fire safety. "The concern is retirement homes have residents who are not able to evacuate on their own," said Bernie Silvestri, Ontario's acting deputy chief fire marshal. Residents depend on inadequate safety regulations and enforcement that's left many at the mercy of fires. Two residents were killed last month in a home in Hawkesbury while the ink was still drying on 39 rec-o mmended changes by an inquest jury that examined a blaze three years ago at Muskoka Heights Retirement Residence inOrilliathat killed four and critically injured six. …