by Brent Frazier
GALLATIN, Tenn. - A newly released report by the Gallatin Fire Department supports what owners of a rehabilitation home have always claimed. A deadly fire in one of their residential, rehabilitation houses was accidental; and that little could've been done to save the life of the one resident client who died.
"They felt like he really didn't have a chance, because the smoke and the fire went into that very area of the bathroom that he was in," said Joan Hutchins, co-owner of 21st Century Living Services, the family-owned company that runs that facility that burned February 12, and five others.
Hutchins, who co-owns the company with her husband, Loney, spoke exclusively with NewsChannel 5 on Monday evening, in hopes of debunking some recent claims that the facility was not properly and legally licensed with the State department of health. Now, even the State itself appears to be backing away a bit from the initial belief that the case is clear-cut, said attorney Ben Rose, who represents 21st Century.
Killed in the fire was Douglas Johnson, 45, a Tennessee native and survivor of a traumatic brain injury, who'd been with the rehab house since last October. Despite his dysfunctional brain, the result of an injury Hutchins will not elaborate on, Johnson was completely mobile, she said.
Hutchins said Johnson was in the shower, in a second-story bathroom, at the time of the fire that started at roughly 3:15 p.m. that Saturday.
The official report rules the origin of the fire "accidental," and attributes the cause of the blaze to what's known as a "CFL," or an energy-efficient and environmentally friendly, light bulb positioned on the outside of the home's back porch.
"It was an accident, of tragic consequences," added Joan Hutchins.
Hutchins, who has a lengthy career in speech rehabilitation, said all of their patients, or "clients," are more like family, making this loss of life more hard-hitting, she said.
Attorney Ben Rose added that the Hutchinses are cooperating fully with the State investigation, and that any necessary licensures will be obtained, from this point forward.
Rose also said that all five of the family's remaining healthcare facilities were inspected, even subsequent to the fire, and all five passed with the State's stamp of approval.
Email: bfrazier@newschannel5.com
