MEC&F Expert Engineers : ELDERLY MOTHER, SON KILLED IN ALTADENA, CALIFORNIA HOUSE FIRE CAUSED BY A COMBINATION OF SMOKING AND OXYGEN MASK

Sunday, March 8, 2015

ELDERLY MOTHER, SON KILLED IN ALTADENA, CALIFORNIA HOUSE FIRE CAUSED BY A COMBINATION OF SMOKING AND OXYGEN MASK




MARCH 8, 2015

ALTADENA, CALIFORNIA (KABC)

Two people were killed after an Altadena home caught fire Saturday night.
At 10:17 p.m., Los Angeles County firefighters responded to a call regarding a house fire in the 2400 block of Holliston Avenue.

Firefighters arrived to find the home engulfed in flames. A 58-year-old man and his mother, 86, were killed in the fire. The mother had been bed ridden and was unable to escape, according to authorities.

Fire officials said the son was using an oxygen mask and smoking at the same time, which appeared to be the cause of the fire.  Oxygen enrichment of the air considerably increases the risk of fire.  Sparks (such as from a cigarette) which would normally be regarded harmless can cause fires.  In oxygen-enriched air, or where oxygen enrichment can occur, smoking must be strictly forbidden.  This gentleman did not do that and paid with his life, along with his elderly and bed ridden mother.  Sad, really sad.

The blaze was knocked down shortly after 10:30 p.m.