KPTV - FOX 12Man burned when cigarette ignites oxygen supply

Man burned when cigarette ignites oxygen supply

Firefighters say a Portland man suffered burns to his face, nose, and lungs after a lit cigarette ignited his supplemental oxygen supply.

Portland Fire Bureau spokesman Paul Corah said firefighters were called to the man's home in the 12000 block of SE Powell Boulevard at 5 p.m. Thursday.

The man's wife told firefighters that she heard a noise in the bathroom and went to investigate. When she entered the room she noticed her husband's nasal cannula, the device used to deliver oxygen to the nostrils, was on fire.

She told investigators that she rushed out of the room to turn off the flow of oxygen and called 911.

The man told firefighters that he had been smoking a cigarette when the oxygen ignited.

The man was taken to the Legacy Oregon Burn Center for treatment.

"If you use oxygen or if you live in a household where someone uses supplemental oxygen, you should never smoke anywhere near the equipment," said Portland Fire and Rescue Deputy Chief Duane Bray. "Doing so puts you and others in considerable danger."

Corah said this was the second burn victim Portland firefighters had treated this month who admitted to smoking while using oxygen.

A 70-year-old woman died on Dec. 10 after firefighters found her unconscious and badly burned in her home. Investigators believe she died when she inhaled toxic fumes when her cigarette ignited her personal oxygen supply.

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