HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) -- Investigators believe a nursing home blaze that killed 10 people was started by a patient who set her sheets on fire, a newspaper reported Thursday. They still had not determined whether the fire was set intentionally.
The 23-year-old patient suffers from multiple sclerosis and had a history of abusing drugs, including crack, The Hartford Courant reported, citing unidentified law enforcement sources.
Police Chief Bruce Marquis would not comment on the report but said the woman was interviewed Wednesday night in the presence of doctors and was cooperating. No charges have been filed against her.
Police said they would try to determine if the woman's ``mental capacity'' was a factor in the early-morning blaze Wednesday.
Investigators used search warrants to look for evidence at the Greenwood Health Center. ``We're trying to ascertain if this was a criminal act, whether there was intent,'' Marquis said.
Fire investigators Thursday sifted through the ashes inside the bedrooms that sustained the heaviest damage. Some of that evidence has been sent to the state crime lab, but analysis is not expected to be complete until next week.
They said the victims all died from smoke inhalation and were from three rooms in the center.
Fourteen people remained hospitalized, five in critical condition.
The 148 patients at the home included people who were frail, elderly, retarded or in a coma. Mayor Eddie Perez said the place also handled younger psychiatric patients.
Ninety of the patients remained at the home; officials said all were given the option of moving somewhere else. More than two dozen patients were transferred to other facilities.
Families of residents, barred earlier from the scene, were allowed to visit later Thursday.
Hiram Otero of Hartford was able to visit his father-in-law, who he happily reported was safe.
``He's doing well. His air is nice and clean,'' he said, smiling. ``He didn't even know anything happened.''
The Rev. Joseph O'Neil presided over a Mass Thursday afternoon at the home, surrounded by a congregation of frail patients, a heartbroken medical staff and families of victims.
``What happened yesterday has nothing to do with God's will. God did not desire what happened yesterday,'' the Catholic priest told a crowd of about 50. ``Whatever happened yesterday, whatever caused the fire, was apparently human in design. It was not a divine zap.''
Police also released the names of two previously unidentified victims Thursday: Angel Diaz, 76, of West Hartford and Elizabeth Nadeau, 55, of New Britain.
