State says seniors were abandoned during California wildfire

By JONATHAN J. COOPER 
Associated Press

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- A state investigation has found that staff at two senior care facilities abandoned residents during an evacuation as wildfires swept through Northern California last October. 

Officials announced Thursday that they've moved to revoke licenses from the Santa Rosa facilities and their top administrators. 

The Department of Social Services investigation says more than 20 people would have died when a dementia facility burned to the ground if family members and emergency responders hadn't evacuated them after all staff left. 

Investigators say at least three residents were never evacuated from another facility, and workers who found them the next morning lied about it. 

The facilities known as Villa Capri and Varenna are managed by Oakmont Management Group based in Windsor. Executives did not respond to requests for comment.