Original Blog Entry: Man On Breathing Machine Sets House On Fire While Smoking

truesee — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 11:09:41 GMT

Man On Breathing Machine Sets House On Fire While Smoking

Melissa Moon 1:28 p.m. CDT, March 14, 2011

FAST FACTS:

A man apparently smoking in bed set his house on fire The man, who was also using a breathing machine, had oxygen tanks in the next room Neighbors saw the fire and alerted firefighters

(Memphis 3/14/2011) The sign on the front door of an East Memphis home says oxygen in use no smoking.

Still, neighbors in the 1600 block of Watson say that didn't stop the man who lives there and uses a breathing machine from lighting up and catching his bed on fire.

I noticed the smoke coming out of the door when I went out to get the paper, said Chuck Stewart.

Chuck Stewart, who lives just across the street and has been caring for his 67-year-old neighbor, ran over to help while his wife and another neighbor called 911.

He had a hospital bed, it was blazing good when I went over there this morning, said Stewart.

He says his neighbor was already in his doorway when got he there, but in a daze and he had to be carried out by firefighters.

Firefighters later removed the charred mattress and other items destroyed by the fire.

Stewart says his neighbor is fortunate he made it out alive.

Even all the electrical cords to everything are all burnt he's lucky that oxygen didn't blow up, said Stewart.

Neighbors who watched firefighters put out the fire say the man is also lucky he had some good neighbors looking out for him.

I mean to be on a breathing machine and smoke and catch his bed on fire. He's not able to move around very much from what I understand and he's very lucky, said Scott Williams.

Fire officials say the man didn't have a working smoke detector.

He was transported to the hospital and treated for smoke inhalation. He didn't suffer any burns.

The Memphis fire department encourages everyone to have a working smoke detector.

LINK TO VIDEO:

http://www.wreg.com/videobeta/b5b5ba4e-40cd-4b63-bdaa-f242d7211b95/News/Man-On-Breathing-Machine-Sets-House-On-Fire-While-Smoking

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