Two killed in group home fire

The man suspected of starting the fire won't be charged criminally, an official said.
COLUMBUS (AP) -- A fire Wednesday afternoon in a group home for the mentally disabled killed one of the two residents and their caregiver, a fire official said.
A second resident who survived, a 29-year-old man, appeared to have a started the fire by lighting clothing with a cigarette lighter in a closet in the front of the house, said Doug Smith, a battalion fire chief. He said the fire, reported about 4 p.m., would have blocked the three from getting out the front door.
A 31-year-old resident of the house was pronounced dead at the scene. The 62-year-old caretaker, a female, was pronounced dead at Mount Carmel West Hospital, Smith said.
It appears the victims died of smoke inhalation, Smith said.
All three were taken from the home unconscious, said Sgt. Mike Evans of the Columbus police.
The 29-year-old man was taken to the burn unit at the Ohio State University Medical Center and was in critical condition Wednesday night with smoke inhalation and burns, Smith said.
No criminal charge
Smith said the man would not be charged criminally.
Both men lived at the house for more than six years, were friends and had families living nearby, said Patrick Rafter, president and chief executive of Creative Housing Inc., a nonprofit organization that owns the house and provides housing to people with developmental disabilities.
The caregiver was employed by Dungarvin Ohio, a company that provides residential and other services to the developmentally disabled. A message seeking comment was left with the company Wednesday night.
The home sits in the back of a cul-de-sac in a residential area.
Judy Fountain, who lives across from the cul-de-sac, said she saw flames coming out the front door and white smoke that turned to black as windows broke.
She said one of the male residents was the first carried out and he had burns on his hands and face. She said four or five firefighters later carried a blanket-wrapped body out of the home.