Story highlights
NEW: At least 32 people are hospitalized
Three people died in fire, officials say
Fire strikes nursing home in western suburb of Sydney
Arson investigators are on the scene
Fire roared through a suburban Sydney, Australia, nursing home early Friday, killing three people and injuring more than 30 others, police officials said.
“Detectives from homicide and arson are on the scene,” Police Assistant Commissioner Robert Redfern said of the incident in the western suburb of Quakers Hill.
“We are treating this like we treat all fires of this nature – as suspicious,” Redfern said.
Nearly 90 people were inside the facility, which was about 20% destroyed.
Fourteen patients, five with severe burns, were in hospital intensive care units, officials said. Eighteen non-ICU patients were hospitalized.
CNN Sydney affiliate Nine News showed video footage of residents in hospital beds being cared for on sidewalks.
The fire began in two rooms, destroyed beds and traveled via the roof, said New South Wales Fire Chief Greg Mullins.
“Upon arrival, smoke was so thick you couldn’t see your hand in front of your face,” Mullins said.