Investigators say man smoking while on oxygen led to fatal fire

Vic Ryckaert | IndyStar

Investigators say a man smoking in bed while connected to oxygen tanks caused a deadly fire Sunday on the Eastside.

The 75-year-old man fell asleep with the lit cigarette when the bed caught on fire and ignited the oxygen tank in the basement of a duplex home in the 900 block of North Linwood Avenue about 6:45 p.m. Sunday, Indianapolis Fire Department Battalion Chief Rita Reith said in a news release.

"It appears that the man awakened when his bed caught fire," Reith said. "As he tried to extinguish the flames he succumbed to smoke inhalation."

The home owner, Kimberly Wilson, told investigators she heard a loud noise then the home filled with smoke. Investigators believe the noise was the oxygen container exploding, Reith said.

Wilson and neighbor Ursula Tonge evacuated the building and were not injured, Reith said.

This was the third fatal fire for IFD in 2015.

"Firefighters hope that this incident will serve as a reminder to never smoke while in bed, while using home oxygen and to always have a working smoke alarm in your home," Reith said.

Call Star reporter Vic Ryckaert at (317) 444-2701. Follow him on Twitter: @vicryc.