As firefighters fought fires in the early hours of the morning at a condo on North Meadow Pond Dr. in Leominster, a man lost his life. When the Leominster Fire Department arrived on the scene at around two in the morning, they found that one of the apartments’ living rooms was on fire. An older man in his late 60s with limited mobility was taken from the property by firefighters, according to a statement Boston 25 News was able to obtain. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he passed away from his wounds.
A dog and two cats were among the three creatures who perished in the fire, in addition to the person who died. According to Boston 25 News, Leominster Fire Chief Sideleau sent “heartfelt condolences to this man’s family and loved ones,” acknowledging the community’s collective grief. Although the fire was promptly contained by the fire brigade, the damage had already been done. At least one other person was displaced as a result of the impact on the nearby units.
On the scene, investigators found “evidence of smoking materials and home oxygen equipment in the residence.” Given that this is the second fatal fire involving home oxygen equipment in a week, the discovery pointed to a concerning trend. According to State Fire Marshal Jon Davine, “there’s no truly safe way to smoke, but smoking around medical oxygen is especially dangerous.” Davine emphasized the increased risks of smoking near oxygen. He continued by explaining that oxygen makes any fire burn hotter and spread more quickly.
In a follow-up release, Davine reiterated his remarks and cautioned the public against smoking if they or a loved one use home oxygen. According to 7NEWS, he cautioned, “Please don’t smoke,” citing the obvious risks. These occurrences serve as a sobering reminder of the possible implications of combining smoking with home oxygen therapy, even though the cause of the fire is still being investigated.
Officials are still looking into the loss while the community deals with it, and they will keep the public informed as new information becomes available. Discussions concerning fire safety have already been triggered by the tragedy, especially in residences that include medical equipment that could make a fire worse.
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