Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, January 5, 1995 TAG: 9501050072
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
PETERSBURG - Charred matches and cigarettes were found in a patient's room where a fast-spreading fire started that killed four people at Southside Regional Medical Center, authorities said Wednesday.
But Petersburg Bureau of Fire Capt. T.C. Hairston stopped short of blaming the fire on smoking, which is forbidden in the area of the hospital where the fire broke out Saturday night.
``We are still in the process of eliminating all other possibilities,'' he said.
By late Wednesday afternoon, Hairston said investigators had narrowed the possible cause to just one other source - a hospital bed. Investigators earlier determined the blaze started in or near the bed in Room 418.
Meanwhile, a hospital official said there was no sprinkler system in the area where the victims died.
``At the date of construction, that was not required,'' said Robert A. Phelps, director of safety and security at Southside Regional.
Smoke detectors on the fourth floor of the hospital's south wing were activated by the fire Saturday night, but staff members said they were aware of the fire before the alarms sounded, Phelps said Tuesday.
- Associated Press
Trooper admits planting bombs for Master Blaster to find
NORFOLK - A Virginia state trooper admitted in federal court Wednesday he planted bombs at two malls, a courthouse and a coliseum that he and his explosives-sniffing dog were later hailed for finding.
Vernon Roy Richards could be sentenced to 70 years in prison after pleading guilty to seven felony counts of unlawfully trying to destroy buildings by fire and explosives.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael R. Smythers said Richards, a bomb squad officer, told investigators he wanted to enhance his image within his profession and never meant to hurt anyone. None of the bombs exploded.
Richards, 41, and his dog, Master Blaster, became local celebrities last summer for finding bombs at Coliseum Mall in Hampton and Lynnhaven Mall in Virginia Beach.
Richards has been suspended without pay since his arrest. Tammy Van Dame, a state police spokeswoman, said he will be fired.
- Associated Press
Crowd gives panel an earful, condemns Allen budget cuts
VERONA - Nearly 300 people packed a meeting room with half that many seats Wednesday to denounce Gov. George Allen's proposed state spending cuts.
They lined the aisles three deep, held placards protesting cuts in the Virginia Cooperative Extension Center and 4-H programs, and jockeyed for position in the hallway to hear the testimony.
The Senate Finance Committee and House Appropriations Committee have held hearings around the state during the past week to hear public comments on the budget amendments.
Allen has said that $413 million in spending cuts is needed to help finance his tax cut and prison building programs.
- Associated Press
Ex-President Bush to open Yorktown center galleries
YORKTOWN - Former President George Bush is scheduled to speak at the Yorktown Victory Center on April 11 in a ceremony marking completion of a $3.86 million renovation project.
Bush will speak at the opening of the center's new permanent exhibition galleries, which will focus on the stories of ordinary men and women in the American Revolution.
- Associated Press
Keywords:
FATALITY
Memo: longer versions of the last 2 briefs ran in the State edition.