Tobacco.org

Lit cigarette blamed for fire that seriously injured tenant 

PROVIDENCE -- A man who was critically burned in a house fire in the Smith Hill neighborhood late Sunday afternoon had been drinking alcohol and was smoking in bed when the fire began, the city fire marshal said yesterday.

"Whether he fell asleep smoking, or he just didn't realize he had dropped" his lit cigarette, an investigation shows that the cigarette caused the mattress of his bed to catch fire, according to Fire Marshal Anthony DiGiulio.

The victim, Rainer Randell, 41, of 132 Ruggles St., was in critical condition in the intensive care unit at Rhode Island Hospital

Jump to full article »