Even as the Quakers Hill nursing home was still smouldering, the nurse charged with lighting the blaze that left five elderly people dead was telling Nine News he did what he could to save the residents.
The blaze tore through the home in northwest Sydney early on Friday, killing five people and leaving 32 in hospital.
"There was a fire and I just quickly did what I can, get everyone out and the smoke is just overwhelming’," Roger Dean, 35, told Nine News as firefighters battled the blaze on Friday.
Dean appeared via video link before magistrate Andrew George at Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday morning charged with four counts of murder
He is expected to be charged with a fifth murder after Ella Wood, 97, died at Concord Repatriation General Hospital yesterday.
The registered nurse had only been working at the Quakers Hill Nursing Home for two months after leaving a job at another retirement home following a dispute with management, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.
Mr Dean's neighbour of four years Peter Arnold, 43, told the paper he knows the accused "quite well" and was shocked to hear of his alleged crimes.
'''It's a surprise that someone so close could do this,' Mr Arnold said.'
Mr Dean, who did not apply for bail, will appear before Central Local Court on Thursday.
Speaking at a news conference in Sydney on Saturday, police said they could not comment on a possible motive.
But Detective Superintendent Michael Willing said it was believed Mr Dean had been working at the nursing home for just a short time.
The investigation was expected to take some time as officers still did not have access to the scene, he added.
"The building is still structurally unsound and it will be some time before we can complete our examinations there," Det Supt Willing said.
He described the blaze as a tragedy.
"Our thoughts go out to those who have lost loved ones and those with family members ... currently receiving treatment in hospital.
Three of the five patients who died were named by police on Saturday.
Alma Smith, 73, died at the scene on Friday morning, Lola Bennett, 86, died at the Royal North Shore Hospital on Friday afternoon and Ella Wood, 97, died in Concord Repatriation Hospital yesterday.
Fourteen of the 32 victims hospitalised remain in intensive care at Royal North Shore and Concord hospitals.
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