Police checks examined following Sydney nursing home blaze

Officials in Australia's New South Wales state on Sunday demanded a report into criminal checks on nursing home staff after a sixth person died following a suspicious blaze at a Sydney retirement village. A 79-year-old woman died in hospital early Sunday, police said, becoming the sixth victim of Friday's horror inferno at the western Quakers Hill Nursing Home which also injured dozens of other elderly residents, several of them seriously. A nurse at the home, Roger Dean, 35, was on Saturday charged with multiple counts of murder over the fire. It was described by Prime Minister Julia Gillard as a "very dark day" for Australians. Dean had been hailed a hero after fronting news media outside the home as firefighters battled to contain the flames, telling reporters he "just quickly did what I could to get everyone out". "The smoke is just overwhelming but, you know, we got a lot of people out, so that's the main thing," he told television news crews. State Premier Barry O'Farrell on Sunday ordered a full report into criminal screening processes for nursing home staff and an audit of all the state's care facilities for the elderly, vowing to take lessons from the tragedy. "I've asked for a full report, not only on checks on staff but also the physical structure of nursing homes and retirement villages across the state," said O'Farrell. He insisted that it was "no matter how tragic, an isolated episode". Police refused to comment on multiple media reports that officers had spoken to Dean about an unrelated matter just hours before the fire erupted, or that he recently left another job following a dispute. "As the matter is before the courts it's inappropriate for the NSW Police Force to comment on speculation or any circumstances surrounding the investigation into the fire or the arrest," a police spokesman said. Forensic and other examinations were continuing and police said "further charges are expected to be laid at a later date". One woman, 67, was clinging to life Sunday, with another, aged 83, in a serious condition. Several other residents were described as stable. A memorial service will be held for the victims on Wednesday at Quakers Hill Anglican Church. Dean is due to appear in court on Thursday.