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By Cara McCoy 
Sunday, Jan. 2, 2011 | 9:21 a.m.
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Three people were injured in an early morning apartment fire that Las Vegas Fire & Rescue officials said was sparked when a woman forgot she was on medical oxygen and decided to smoke a cigarette before going to sleep.
At 2:34 a.m., firefighters were alerted to a blaze at Las Vegas Manor Senior Apartments, 1700 N. Decatur Blvd. One apartment was gutted and a second had heat and smoke damage, while eight others had a smoke odor, fire department spokesman Tim Szymanski said.
The fire, which displaced 10 people, was extinguished at 2:55 a.m. Damage was estimated at $200,000.
The woman who lived in the gutted apartment told fire investigators she decided to smoke a cigarette before lying down in bed; however, she forgot she was hooked up to a medical oxygen device. When she lit her cigarette, the oxygen flashed and started a fire on the bed, Szymanski said.
She grabbed the bedding that was on fire and took it outside, but the bed itself was on fire and the fire extended to the rest of the small apartment. The woman, who was in her 60s, was the only occupant of that unit, fire officials said.
She was taken to University Medical Center with burns to her face. Fire officials said two others were treated for smoke inhalation but had been released from medical care.
Las Vegas Manor Senior Apartments is located along Decatur Boulevard, between Vegas Drive and Lake Mead Boulevard. The complex was built in 1964.
How do you "forget" that you're on oxygen ? Perhaps she had too much to drink, or was drugged up on too many medications? Regardless, if you are on oxygen - DON'T SMOKE ! Duhh
If she hadn't smoked to begin with, she wouldn't NEED to be on oxygen.
More addicting than any other drug, and Metro goes after pot.
I've seen people do this in casinos.
It's odd that oxygen would flash, since oxygen doesn't burn. Hmmm!
My SISTER-IN-LAW did this very thing and she didn't forget she just didn't believe it would happen I told her many of times not to smoke especially after now requiring oxygen. And she told me that same old excuse that people like her say " Oh ain't nothing going to happen I've done this so many times" Then it happens and they make things up like I forgot I was on oxygen.
I would almost bet that her smoking caused COPD and she still defends that smoking is not as bad as we are being lead to believe, This is just another way smoking can kill you and others. Can someone tell me that no one else was affected by her smoking?
What was that Apollo mission that burned up on the launch pad in the sixties because of a spark in a oxygen rich atmosphere and three or four astronauts died in it.
Forest Gumps mama said it best, "STUPID IS AS STUPID DOES".
What most people do not realize is that oxygen is not explosive, but is necessary for fire to burn.
What do you want to bet she will not quit smoking while on Oxygen, let alone quit the cancer canes all together? Casinos should ban smoking if you're on Oxygen, guess profit rules over sanity.
People on medical oxygen devices need to be held accountable for their action. How in the world do you forget your hooked up to a piece of machinery that is keeping you alive. Which brings up another point, your on oxygen because of your years of smoking and you continue to smoke. People on oxygen need to be confined and place in another part of the building separate from those who are not an hazard. People on onxygen are extremely dangerous because most still smoke and fire and oxygen do not mix.
where i live there was a woman who did this very thing.. she not only blew up one apartment she blew up two apartments.. and the people who do this.. have no care for their neighbors. I know a woman who smokes like a fish and is on oxygen..she is in my building... and says no it wont blow up.. I am waiting to blow up in my apartment because of this uncaring person. no cares in the world.. but oh well.. i think this woman should be put in a home or something.. she is deadly in my eyes.
Take away her oxygen and give her a carton of coffin nails.
Uhhh, yeah, if I was smoking pot I may actually forget I was on oxygen. LOL
A man in my neighborhood did exactly the same thing a few years back. He died in the fire. These people are just ridiculous. They know they are not to smoke while using an oxygen tank, but it doesn't stop them. This woman in today's story is in a boatload of trouble.
Here's a couple of tips don't dispense gas into a metal gas can or don't smoke while fueling your car just a friendly tip lol
Fish smoke?
Xdci21 and Warrior,
Your answers while technically correct were overly simplistic. Oxygen is explosive but it requires a very high concentration to fall within the explosive limits.
Generally an Oxygen fire is better described as flash fire. The danger of being in a flash fire is that all the oxygen and easily combustible materials are utilized with such ferocity that people are burned rather severely and their lungs are damaged as the fire searches out more oxygen.
Oxygen used by patients most often has the perfect explosive limit at the area between the upper lip and nose. For the ignition sequence to be completed the victim either lit a short butt or drew the cigarette down to the butt. The ash insulates the coal from completing the sequence until the cigarette is drawn within contact of the perfect oxygen concentration.
Btw, you CANNOT light a flammable liquid by throwing a lit cigarette into it. The vapor concentration is too high and again the ash insulates the coal.
...NO, silly Casper, but many chimneys drink!
STUPID c u next tuesday! Can't you go off the oxygen for five seconds to smoke a cigarette? She bought her ticket, she knew what she was getting into!
And where did Las Vegas rank among the dumbest cities in the US - dead (no pun itended) last.
getalife,
Can you please provide a technical source that supports your assertion that oxygen is flammable?
Can you please provide specifics regarding the lower and upper explosive limits, and therefore the explosive range for oxygen?
SMOKING KILLS.
DMFDRT,
In the example given, oxygen is actually the oxidizer and the fuel source therefore it is flammable.
The basic definition of an explosion is a rapid oxidation of a substance accompanied by a noise and often associated with a bright light. Some explosions occur violently while others, still considered explosion, are merely flashes.
The books that support these assertions are numerous. A really good one is titled: Ignition.
Contact me through the Sun and I will be happy to assist.
I know I am going to catch he** here, but this woman needs to be prosecuted for this. Now before you call me crazy take a look at this story http://goo.gl/un7Ik. A man accidentally caused a canon to explode on July 4th, and the DA was more than willing to charge him. This woman's negligence caused the destruction of private property and injury to others. And the best part about charging her...She can't smoke in jail.
Is it this woman's fault that the addictive qualities PLACED inside the cigarette by the manufacturer were at least partially, if not wholly responsible, for the perceived need to light up?
It is no different from yelling fire in a theater to implant addictive elements, known to be addictive, into something you know people will consume and then be naturally drawn by the ingredients which the manufacturer placed in the product to light up as often as they possibly can in order to alleviate the effects of the addictive withdrawal symptoms, also placed into the items sold American.
Implanting addiction, lying about the addictive nature of the product, and moneyed interests have as much to do with this fire as plain old oxygen which did NOT have an intent, a pecuniary gain to make by lying and implanting hooks with barbs.
Natural selection at work!
Her womb probably already popped out a few, so never mind.
Once addicted, a smoker goes into the cycles of feeding the habit and then finding a relief period when the jitters of nicotine addiction go into a smoked-out hibernation. But, they come back. That's why she was having one last ciggie before sleep time.
Bob Schieffer, NBC TV News guy, talks about the regular waking up at midnight to have a ciggie so he could go back to sleep.
It may seem like a funny thing, but it is quite real. There is stuff IN the smoke that grabs folks' ability to walk away. They come back and die this route, and it's legal.
Does any of this mean it's not her fault? Of course not. And of course.
The issues are multi-faceted. More later, but the lady did NOT want to burn up; the nicotine dealers had her by the throat, so to speak and as previous posters accurately recognize, clearly had a hand in the on the woman's malaise as it is.
bghs's post indicates a desire to put this woman into jail expressly for the joy he would derive from the anguish of withdrawal this other person would suffer. And after a life of feeling like a fish on a shortening line, lungs filling daily, coughing so hard you blow busted bloody burritos into your now spotted shorts.
Is it fun for you to kick dogs, burn children and tie tin cans to cat tails? Want to get some worthless old homeless bum and stick cherry bombs in his ears and eyes, wrap him good and tight with duct tape and send him home with a bang?
@ airweare...I think she shoal be prosecuted because she caused damage to both people and property through her negligent actions. I would like to see her prosecuted because that is what the law demands. What is your reason not to hold this woman accountable for her actions?
She was forced to lead a life of cruel poverty from her addiction.
She lost her vigor, strength and charm from the addiction.
She got wrinkly quick from the addiction.
Her quality of life tanked ...
"...not addictive." "... not addictive." echo all the CEOs, and then it's back on the plane to the summer place in the San Juans.
So bghs,
are the actual perpetrators held accountable?
Huge fires and blown up lives by the millions, and are they held accountable??
Where?? How??
Is it still going on, this destruction of life, this mass mob-rule of pulmonary and cardiac catastrophes in the making for PROFIT?
What is our reason for tolerating this insidious attack? They are us.
Smokers enrich Doctors, Lawyers, Growers, Nurses, Undertakers, Laundry and Dry-cleaning, etc..
Smoking is a societal benefactor; it contributes to a sense of camaraderie among those who share the addiction. It's not uncommon for a smoker to feel comfortable in approaching a perfect stranger and bum a smoke if he's lucky enough to spot somebody smoking when he's out and has been out for awhile.
Outside of financial ruin, blown-out health, wasted friendships, lost love and strength and the naturally-occurring early demise and attendant empty funeral parlors, smoking is a terrificly intelligent, exciting and suave thing to do and I hope everyone enjoys it.
Hey kid...want some carbon monoxide?
huh?
Yeah Over 15oo parts per million of the silent killer, the most powerful neurotoxin known to man. It's in here. Have one, dude.
Why?
Well, it's actually just a by-product along with some oxides of nitrogen that eat sheet rock if it's not painted.
In my lungs?
Yeah alongside the carcinogens. Wanna look like you're somebody? Of course you do. Kid ya gotta smoke so the girls will notice how tough you are.
But I'm not tough; I weigh 94 pounds and you smell really bad, especially your breath.
But, kid, you won't have a chance at the parties. You wanna be liked, right?
PWNED
bghs1986 is crazy. I wonder how much he had to drink last night. I bet he kicks bee's nests and blames Bush for his getting stung.
bghs1986 needs to attend anger management.
bghs has some good points. While I don't think the woman should be prosecuted, I do think she should be made to bear some of the cost of the people who have been rendered homeless by the situation. If you want to smoke, then smoke. But when smoking renders others homeless, then someone needs to be held accountable.
Forget? how do you FORGET you're on oxygen? Is she lucky to be alive?...DAMN RIGHT she is..Hope she understands what she has done and should count her lucky stars no one was killed because of her stupidity.She's probably the same people that daggle that CIG from their lips while refueling their car. Me?...I drive off...I can go to another gas station (far enough away).