Reno Fire Department investigators say the early Thursday morning fire that heavily damaged an apartment unit was ignited by a cigarette while oxygen was in use.
Jump to full article: City of Reno (NV), 2009-05-07
Intro: The cause of an early Thursday morning fire that resulted in five injuries to residents and extensive damage to an 8-apartment unit in the Rosewood Park Apartment complex at 4500 Mira Loma Drive was related to an apartment resident smoking while oxygen was in use, according to Reno Fire Department investigators.
Arriving Reno firefighters found both upstairs and downstairs apartments on the southeast side of the unit at 4500 Mira Loma Drive fully involved in fire and began assisting residents to evacuate while initiating firefighting operations. . . .
The fire, reported just before 1:00 a.m., ignited out when a cigarette was apparently dropped onto the floor by an elderly resident who was using oxygen at the time, according to investigators who also said an explosion heard by residents in the apartments appears to have been the oxygen tank exploding.
Reno Fire investigators say that anyone using oxygen must use extreme caution to avoid fire.
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