Short circuit blamed for deadly BiH retirement home fire

Sarajevo [Bosnia and Herzegovina], November 15: Local authorities on Friday said that last week's fatal fire at a retirement home in Tuzla, northeastern Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), was caused by a short circuit in the connection cable of a radio receiver.
According to the Prosecutor's Office of Tuzla Canton, the cable had been clamped between a wall and the metal bed frame of a resident, causing mechanical damage that led to thermal overloading and ignition. The findings were submitted by certified experts in electrical engineering and fire protection.
The blaze, which occurred on Nov. 4, killed 15 people and injured more than 30.
Witness hearings are ongoing to determine potential responsibility for serious offenses against public safety, including causing general danger resulting in death and negligent conduct.
The retirement home, which has been operating since 1980, is a publicly owned, nonprofit, self-financed institution under the jurisdiction of the city of Tuzla. Although city authorities appoint its management, the institution does not receive municipal subsidies or funding.
Source: Xinhua News Agency