Smoking near oxygen tank leads to fire, serious injuries in Haywood County
PRESS RELEASE FROM THE HAYWODD COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT:
HAYWOOD COUNTY, Tenn. — At approximately 12:11 PM, the Haywood County Fire Department responded to a residential fire at 3992 Tibbs Forked Deer Rd in Haywood County after the caller reported he was on fire. Law enforcement arrived first on scene and advised smoke was inside the residence. At approxi- mately 12:26 hours, an oxygen tank exploded.
Fire crews arrived at 12:37 hours and located an adult male on the back porch with burns to his body. Personnel immediately initiated patient care while additional units began fire suppression operations. An air ambulance was requested for transport due to the severity of injuries.
Crews initiated an aggressive fire attack and brought the fire under control at approximately 13:19 hours. A total of approximately seven apparatus and one command vehicle responded to the incident. The fire was fully extinguished at approximately 14:55 hours, and all units returned to service.
The cause of the fire was determined to be smoking while oxygen was in use, creating an oxygen-enriched environment that contributed to the rapid ignition.
Fire Safety Message:
The Haywood County Fire Department reminds all residents that smoking while using supplemental oxygen is extremely dangerous and can lead to rapid fire ignition and severe in- jury or death. Oxygen itself does not burn, but it greatly accelerates combustion. Never smoke or allow open flames near oxygen equipment and ensure all oxygen use follows proper safety guidelines.
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