PUEBLO, COLO. -- A fire started by a woman who was smoking while on home oxygen killed two cats, according to the Pueblo Fire Department.
Firefighters responded to the home, in the 3400 block of O’Neal Avenue on Pueblo’s south side, at around 9:30 a.m., Wednesday.
When firefighters got there, they found a single-story home with flames coming out of the front picture window.
The fire was extinguished in minutes and woman who lived at the home got out safely.
Fire officials said two pet cats died despite firefighters trying to resuscitate them.
The fire, ruled accidental, started in a chair that was in the living room. Authorities said the resident was smoking while on home oxygen.
It was reported that she removed the oxygen source before lighting the cigarette. That’s when the chair and oxygen line sparked, fire officials said.
A passerby was able to help her escape from the burning home.
"While we stand today able to say that we averted another loss-of-life tragedy, I cannot over-emphasize the dangers of the combination of smoking and oxygen use," Fire Chief Christopher Riley said. "Our community has suffered the recent loss of six citizens due to this type of fire, and we’ve experienced several other close calls such as this. Please DO NOT combine smoking and oxygen use! It can prove to be a positively lethal choice."
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