At least 9 dead in nursing home fire

The death toll from a fire at an Australian nursing home that was allegedly set by a male nurse rose to nine Tuesday, authorities said.Seven of the dead have been identified, The Australian reported. Six were women and one a man, and they ranged in age from 73 to 90.Identities have not been released for two people who were killed in the fire early Friday morning at Principal Quakers Hill Nursing Home in the Sydney suburb of Quakers Hill.Roger Dean, 35, was arrested during police questioning Friday and formally charged with four counts of murder Saturday. He is scheduled to appear in court again Thursday.The most recent victim, Neeltje Valkay, 90, died Tuesday morning.The family of Doris Becke, who died Monday night, said she remained alert at 96 and enjoyed sharing stories about her childhood and young married life on farms."She was a real old battler," her son, Neale, told The Sydney Morning Herald.Almost 100 residents were evacuated from the home and more than 30 hospitalized, including 15 with critical injuries. Becke said the family spent hours trying to find his mother before they learned she was in Blacktown Hospital.