SAN ANTONIO – Residents at Wedgwood Senior Living apartments claim a history of false fire alarms led to a slow evacuation when the 11-story building caught on fire, resulting in the death of six elderly individuals.
Authorities are still investigating the Dec. 28 fire, which left at least 20 people hospitalized.
First responders led out between 75 and 120 elderly residents – many who struggled walking without assistance. Some residents were rescued from windows by ladder crews.
Those who died were in their 70s and 80s.
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Many residents said they were in no hurry to leave the building when the fire alarm went off because they had grown accustomed to frequent false alarms, The New York Times reports.
Additionally, the incident has raised the question of whether elderly people should live in an 11-story building since some had difficulty walking down stairs. During the fire, the building’s elevators were shut down as a standard practice.
Wedgwood residents are currently residing at local hotels.
