NOVEMBER 11, 1999 - For more information contact the Michigan Department of Consumer & Industry Services (CIS) Bureau of Health Systems.

The Department of Consumer & Industry Services' main focus at the current time at Clara Barton Terrace Convalescent Home, located at 1801 Atherton Rd. in Flint, is to ensure that residents are being placed in nursing homes in the area or being appropriately treated in hospitals.  The explosion and fire, which early report indicate stemmed from the boiler, occurred approximately at 9 p.m. last night.

However, CIS also has inspectors from MIOSHA, Bureau of Construction Codes Boiler Division, Bureau of Health Systems (which oversees nursing homes), Public Service Commission and Office of Fire Safety on site to begin investigating this incident.  Two MIOSHA inspectors, who worked on the 8-month Ford River Rouge explosion investigation, are also on stand-by notice.

CIS is working closely with the Michigan Family Independence Agency and the Michigan Public Health Institute to ensure appropriate placement.  Patients are being assessed by FIA and placed in area nursing homes.  FIA and MPHI have received permission to access remaining medical files on the site, which will be distributed to the new homes.

Additionally arson investigators from the Michigan State Police have been called in by the Flint Fire Department to the scene.  The National Traffic Safety Board has also sent representatives.

While we do not know the cause of the explosion and fire, CIS records indicate the last inspection of the boiler room was conducted 11/24/98 by the nursing home's insurance company, Connecticut-based Hartford Steam Boiler.  The inspection of the three boilers on the site revealed "no adverse conditions," according to the report.  The boilers were not due for another inspection until December 2000.  The Hartford Steam Boiler inspectors in Michigan are licensed by CIS.

The owner of the nursing home, Gerry Baker, has contacted CIS to express his willingness to cooperate with the investigation.  Baker took ownership of the facility on Oct. 26.

"Our inspectors are doing everything they can to make sure the residents are relocated as safely and as quickly as possible," said Kathy Wilbur, director of Consumer & Industry Services.  "As much as we would like all the answers about how or why this tragedy occurred today, we must wait to see what our experts report after a thorough investigation, which may take months."

Read more Michigan Department of Consumer & Industry Services press releases.