Grandmother dies as fire breaks out at care home

A grandmother died and seven others were treated in hospital after a fierce blaze broke out at a care home for the elderly.

Vimlaben Patel, 85, was killed in the fire, believed to have started in her bedroom.

Investigators were today searching for the cause of the blaze at Aashna House in Streatham last night.

It is being treated as a potential crime but police sources said there was so far no indication of foul play.

Fire crews in breathing apparatus evacuated 40 residents, most of whom were infirm or bedbound, as they fought to contain the intense flames.

Six residents were taken to hospital suffering the effects of choking smoke that filled the building.

The home's duty manager, who had tried to reach Mrs Patel when the alarm was raised, was taken to hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation.

The dead woman's son Naished Patel and other relatives rushed to the scene today after police broke the news.

Mr Patel, 54, a pharmacist from South Croydon, said: "It is an awful shock. The police just said my mother passed away. We want to know what happened but they haven't been able to give details."

Mrs Patel, a widow, was born in Kenya but had lived in the Norbury area for at least 30 years, said her son-in-law Ashok Patel. She had four children and eight grandchildren.

Mr Patel, 55, a retired newsagent from Caterham in Surrey, said: "She was a charming old lady, very traditional and a family person. We came here to see her only a week ago because the whole family had just got back from my son Pretesh's wedding in Kenya and she was very keen to hear all about it because she could not go herself.

"She was in high spirits. She walked with a frame but her health was good and mentally she was still very bright. It's terrible and so sudden."

Fire station manager Steve Jones said 40 firefighters arrived to find a "very intense build-up of heat" in Mrs Patel's ground-floor flat, which was today covered by a tarpaulin while a forensics team searched for evidence.

Mr Jones added: "We managed to contain the flames in one flat but the smoke was very thick and six residents were taken to hospital as a precautionary measure."

Police Inspector Tony Gumbleton praised rescuers. He said: Some people were incapacitated and had to be carried out. The speed of the evacuation was the best I have seen in 30 years and undoubtedly helped prevent an even worse outcome."

Aashna House, in Bates Crescent, specialises in looking after elderly Asian residents. The home's staff declined to comment.