Shriners’ burn center admits fourth day-care victim

A Northern California hospital that is treating critically burned victims of a deadly day-care fire in Mexico received a fourth patient Tuesday, with more expected.

“We do have some children who really need our care,” said Dr. Tina Palmieri, assistant chief of burns at Shriners Hospitals for Children Northern California in Sacramento. “We will continue to partner with the hospitals in Mexico to help assure these children get the best outcome possible.”

Meanwhile, the governor of the Mexican state of Sonora, Eduardo Bours, met with the families of three victims at the hospital Tuesday. Afterward, he reiterated his promise to conduct a “deep, clear, honest” investigation into the cause of the blaze that killed 44 children and injured dozens more at the government day-care center in Hermosillo.

“We have to wait until the investigation is finished, but what I can say right now is that what is quite clear is the regulation [of the day care] is not satisfactory,” Bours said.

Two state government officials whose wives are owners of the private company that operated the day-care center resigned Tuesday, saying they wanted to clear the way for the investigation.

Bours said he welcomed the resignations of Antonio Salido, finance director for Sonora state’s infrastructure department, and Alfonso Escalante, the assistant secretary for livestock.

“I totally agree with them,” Bours said. “I think it’s a very honest, intelligent decision.”

On the day of the fire, one parent said the day-care center had only one working emergency exit. Others said there was no indication that fire alarms and sprinklers were triggered.

Salido, the finance minister, said the center had passed all inspections and had three clearly marked emergency exits.

Bours said the fire’s aftermath and the injured children are the worst images he’s ever seen, and he thanked the Shriners organization for helping so many of its victims. Palmieri said other children are being evaluated and considered for transport to another of the group’s burn centers in Cincinnati.

A 3-year-old boy was the hospital’s newest patient after arriving in a Mexican government plane Tuesday, Mexican Consul General Carlos Gonzalez Gutierrez said. He said the boy, burned over 80% of his body, traveled with his mother.