High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The 1976 Wincrest Nursing Home fire took place on Friday, January 30, 1976 in Chicago, USA. The fire occurred when an arsonist set a wardrobe closet on fire at the Wincrest Nursing Home building, located at 6326 N. Winthrop Avenue. The alarm sounded at 11:30 a.m. and the fire was put out at 1:30 p.m. Although the building itself sustained minor smoke, fire and water damage, 23 people died from smoke inhalation. A 21 year old housekeeper was arrested by authorities and was charged with multiple accounts of arson.