Jump to full article: Fitchburg (MA) Sentinel & Enterprise, 2010-02-02
Author: Marisa Donelan
Intro: Fitchburg Fire Chief Kevin Roy remembers a devastating fire caused when an ill woman lit a cigarette while connected to an oxygen tank for her medical problems.
The cigarette sparked a fire on the oxygen tank, badly burning her and causing severe smoke inhalation, which ultimately caused her death, Roy said.
"People that are on oxygen should absolutely not be smoking," Roy said. "It's particularly a problem when it's not someone living in a single-family home. They're putting themselves and a lot of others at risk. ... It's almost a form of suicide when you're doing that."
Roy said he's "very much in support" of a new program launched last week by state Fire Marshal Stephen Coan highlighting the fire dangers of oxygen tanks, because oxygen intensifies the burn of fire, turning accidents into tragedies.
"Every year, we see more and more of these incidents coming up," Roy said.
Coan's office is working with Massachusetts General Hospital and the state task force on home oxygen safety to launch the campaign
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