Peninsula Woman Burns, Dies Smoking With Oxygen Tank: M.P. Fire

MENLO PARK, CA — A woman using an oxygen canister to breath while smoking died in a fire at a home on North Lemon Avenue Friday night, the Menlo Park Fire Protection District reported.

The caretaker of the woman, whose identity is being withheld, called dispatch at 9:17 p.m., bringing out a Menlo Park Fire crew within three minutes. She was found unresponsive in the hallway of a residential structure. The woman had sustained burns to her upper body and was pulseless, Menlo Park Fire added.

Fire investigators determined the incident was “accidental," and the San Mateo County Coroner responded as well.

Structure and content damage from the fire was estimated at about $3,500.

Investigators evaluated that the woman had been smoking at the time of the accident and was in a seated position when the accident occurred. A medical oxygen cylinder used for breathing had recently been changed by her attendant, who was not in the room at the time, the report surmised.

Since the incident was not witnessed, Menlo Park Fire Marshal Jon Johnston, working with the Menlo Park Police officers and the San Mateo County Coroners Office, carefully examined and reviewed the scene.

"It appears that she was either adjusting or in some way addressing medical tubing used to carry the oxygen, when the accident occurred,” Johnston said.

Menlo Park Fire Chief Harold Schapelhouman offered condolences to the family and support to the caretakers.

"These types of tragic incidents, while rare, do occur when cigarettes, or any type of open flame, come into contact with oxygen. The oxygen itself isn’t flammable, but it is an oxidizer which highly supports the ignition and combustion of anything flammable, like upholstery, wood products, plastic and clothing,” Schapelhouman said.