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Mears man dies in home fire  

A 48-year-old Mears man died Saturday morning in a fire that appears to have been caused by a cigarette, according to Hart Fire Chief Ken Klotz, Jr.

Randall Eugene Worth is suspected to have died of smoke inhalation

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Poverty, drink and smoking mean Scots twice as likely to die in fires 

SCOTS are twice as likely to die in a fire than people living in the rest of the UK, according to a new report.

The study found that, in many instances, smoking, alcohol, deprivation and living alone were major factors in the number of house fires.

It was commissioned by the Scottish Government following a 62 per cent rise in the number of people killed in fires in Scotland between 2006-07 and 2007-08.

The survey showed that of 171 fatal fire incidents analysed over a three-year period, 131 were recorded as accidental house fire deaths. The most common causes were discarded cigarettes (54) and cooking appliances (28). Alcohol was a contributory factor in 81 of the 131 cases

The study group, chaired by Strathclyde Fire and Rescue's chief officer Brian Sweeney, has now made dozens of recommendations aimed at curbing the number of preventable deaths.

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Kent | Woman rescued from cigarette fire 

A woman is recovering in hospital after being rescued by Kent firefighters from a blaze caused by a cigarette.

Neighbours alerted emergency services after spotting smoke coming from the terraced home of Edwina Nixon, 45, in Station Road, Whitstable. . . .

A spokesman for Kent Fire and Rescue Service said the fire started when Ms Nixon fell asleep while smoking, setting fire to the sofa.

"This sends out a really important warning to others about the dangers of smoking and not disposing of cigarettes carefully," said Whitstable watch manager David Nolan.

"If it hadn't been for the neighbour, we could easily have been dealing with a fatality."

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Man smoking burns more than 50% of his body 

A man who was smoking set himself on fire and suffered burns to more than 50% of his body early Wednesday at a house on the Far South Side.

Firefighters responded to a working fire at 4:50 a.m. on the 10100 block of South Bensley Avenue, according to Fire Media Affairs Director Larry Langford.

Crews arrived at 4:54 a.m. and found the 36-year-old man had burns to more than 50% of his body.

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Man who died in duplex fire identified  

Olathe authorities have identified James W. Marconet as the man who died in Saturday night's duplex fire.

Marconet, 74, died from injuries he suffered in a fire caused by smoking while using home medical oxygen.

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Smoking cited in fatal Shallowater blaze 

An investigation by the state Fire Marshal's Office determined Friday evening that unsafe smoking practices caused the fatal house fire earlier that afternoon in the 800 block of 13th Street in Shallowater.

Kelly Vandygriff, an investigator with the Fire Marshal's Office, said the fire claimed the life of only one victim, an adult woman whose name he was not authorized to release Saturday. The fire resulted from "unsafe smoking practices" in one of the house's rear bedrooms, he said.

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Blawnox High-Rise Fire Caused By Cigarette  

Investigators say a fire in Blawnox that forced dozens of elderly residents of a high-rise to evacuate was caused by smoking.

Officials say a resident fell asleep while smoking a cigarette in a fifth-floor apartment.

Two years ago, a fire started in the same building because a tenant threw a cigarette in a wastebasket.

The Allegheny County Housing Authority is considering changing its policy.

"What we're going to do is send a survey out . . .

Aggazio says he spoke with evacuated residents at Hoboken Presbyterian Church.

"And I talked to smokers and non-smokers alike and it was very unanimous that they wish that we could ban smoking in the units," he said.

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Olathe Fire Victim Dies from Injuries  

75-year-old man critically injured in an Olathe duplex fire Saturday night as died from his injuries. When Olathe firefighters arrived at the duplex on Jan-Mar Drive in Olathe they were expecting a medical emergency, not a fire. . . .

"They believe he was smoking while he was wearing oxygen for a previous medical condition," said Keiter.

Emergency works said the victim had burns on 98 percent of his body. The man died Sunday from his injuries and firefighters said it's a tragic lesson others should take to heart.

"People who are on oxygen are probably on oxygen because of their history of smoking," said Keiter. "It's a hard habit to break, and they just don't realize the danger they put themselves into smoking and being on oxygen at the same time."

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One person killed in downtown St. Louis fire  

Investigators believe they know what caused a fatal fire in downtown St. Louis early this morning.

The fire happened at Plaza Square Apartments, at 15th and Pine Streets. Investigators believe the handicapped 54-year-old victim was overcome by smoke in a small fire that was ignited in the bedroom.

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Fire victim may have been smoking in bed 

A 64-year-old man died yesterday morning in an apartment fire that Prairie Township firefighters suspect was triggered by smoking in bed.

Roger Robertson apparently was overcome by smoke as he tried to escape the bedroom of his second-floor apartment at 5311 W. Broad St., Fire Chief Steve Feustel said. The building is located in what was once the village of New Rome.

Franklin County Coroner Jan Gorniak listed smoke inhalation as the preliminary cause of death after an autopsy yesterday.

Firefighters who responded to a 911 call at 4:05 a.m. found Robertson's body just outside the bedroom.

"The fire started in the bed," Feustel said. "It appears he collapsed as he was leaving the bedroom."

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Fire deemed an accident 

The fire in a Branford College suite last Thursday was an accident, New Haven fire marshal Joseph Cappucci said Tuesday, and the Fire Department will not pursue legal action against the students involved. Branford Master Steven Smith said any potential disciplinary decisions will be handled by the Executive Committee.

Cappucci attributed the brief blaze to a “carelessly discarded cigarette.” The Yale College Undergraduate Regulations ban smoking in suites. But until Tuesday, a policy on Yale Council of Masters Web site stated that smoking was allowed in an upperclassmen suite if all residents agreed to permit it. Yale College Dean Mary Miller said the posted policy was out of date and did not match Yale College regulations or a 2003 Connecticut statute prohibiting smoking in dormitories.

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• Older smokes still on shelves 

Several area Indian smoke shops are selling cigarettes without a new kind of fire-safety paper required by legislation enacted last year, a Tulsa World investigation shows.

The World bought several packs of discount-brand cigarettes at smoke shops in Tulsa, Broken Arrow, Sapulpa and Beggs. A new state law requires cigarettes to be wrapped in fire-safe paper, beginning Jan. 1, 2009, said Paula Ross, spokeswoman for the Oklahoma Tax Commission.

To delay the law's effect, several area smoke shops appear to be selling old inventory bought before the law took effect about 10 months ago. The law allows retailers to sell old inventory until Jan. 1, 2010.

"Our plan for after January 1, 2010, is to contact the fire marshal's office if nonfire-safe cigarettes are found during a routine compliance check," Ross said.

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Discarded cigarette is likely cause of Jupiter house fire that killed woman 

A fire that killed a 46-year-old woman in her Jupiter home was most likely caused by a discarded cigarette, police said this afternoon.

Authorities concluded that the Tuesday night fire was set accidentally in the master bedroom of Susan Reger's home at 5752 Sugarwood Court in the Woodland Estates development.

Reger's son escaped the home but she was pronounced dead after being pulled from the blaze by firefighters.

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Officials: Windsor Locks Barn Fire Was Arson 

The fire that destroyed three empty tobacco barns Monday was set intentionally, the deputy fire marshal said Wednesday.

Investigators have ruled out all causes other than arson in the fire that consumed the barns about 4 p.m. Monday on land off Old Colony Road, said Deputy Fire Marshal John Kupernik.

Investigators are now appealing to the public for help as they seek those responsible.

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Fire Destroys Windsor Locks Tobacco Sheds 

WINDSOR LOCKS - Fire crews from Windsor and Windsor Locks spent Monday evening battling a massive fire that has destroyed several tobacco sheds

The fire broke out at a tobacco shed on Rainbow Road near Route 20 in Windsor Locks around 4pm. Over a hundred firefighters were called in from surrounding towns to combat the intense flames, which created thick plumes of black smoke visible for miles.

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