License of group home that burned is revoked

Thursday, May 13, 2004 | 9:27 a.m.

A state bureau has revoked the license of the owner of a group care home which went up in flames in March, officials said this week.

On May 7 the Bureau of Licensure and Certification sent notice of the revocation to Tommy Tamayo, listed as owner and administrator of Best Group Care, said Lisa Jones, a health facilities surveyor in the bureau's Las Vegas office.

Tamayo had not contacted the state bureau by late Wednesday, but Jones said the home has until May 24 to appeal the decision or let the revocation stand.

The Sun could not find Tamayo to seek comment.

The action was taken after a state investigation found "that the sole caregiver was not at the facility and left the four residents unattended" when fire broke out on March 20, Jones said.

The fire killed an 86-year-old woman and a 59-year-old man.

Las Vegas firefighters discovered the man dead inside the charred remains of the home after responding to calls from neighbors.

The neighbors had tried to rescue the man and the woman from inside the burning home.

The woman was taken to University Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.

The fire started about 2:15 p.m. in the single-story stucco house located near St. Louis Avenue and McLeod Street. Damage was estimated at $145,000 by fire investigators.

Under state law any group care home with more than three residents must have a fire alarm system and indoor sprinklers. The home was licensed to care for six residents, and the sprinkler system was being installed on the day of the fire, officials said.

A fire alarm had been installed earlier, but neighbors said if it went off during the fire they didn't hear it.

Metro Police detectives also reviewed the circumstances of the fire, a routine procedure when deaths are involved, Sgt. Rocky Alby said.

The Elder Abuse Unit in the district attorney's office is also reviewing the fatal fire, authorities said.