http://ozarkspub.vo.llnwd.net/o37/KSMU/audio/mp3/tendieinfi_1997.mp3
Ten people died Monday in a fire at a long term care facility in Southwest Missouri. As many as 18 people were taken to area hospitals. KSMU's Missy Shelton reports.
Ten people died Monday in a fire at a long term care facility in Southwest Missouri. As many as 18 people were taken to area hospitals.
The fire broke out in the early morning hours Monday at Anderson Guest House, a privately operated state licensed facility for mentally challenged adults.
Governor Matt Blunt toured the remains of the facility Monday afternoon. He says one of those killed in the fire was a worker at the facility and the other nine were residents.
Blunt says the fire is being treated as a crime because it's suspicious but he stopped short of saying it was definitely a crime scene.
Bob Corcoran is Mayor of the town of Anderson and was on the scene shortly after the fire broke out.
He says he's saddened by the loss because he and other people in the town knew the residents of the facility.
Corcoran says not all the residents of the facility were from the area.
Corcoran says very little remains of the Anderson Guest House.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Joplin River of Life Ministries operated the Anderson Guest House.
Anderson Mayor Bob Corcoran says they are making arrangements for displaced residents who now need a place to stay.