Woman Catches Fire, Dies While Smoking

www.channelcincinnati.com ^ | 7:34 pm EDT July 31, 2005 | www.channelcincinnati.com

[TSgt]

CINCINNATI -- Smoking is being blamed for a deadly fire on the campus of The Drake Center Saturday, News 5 reported.

Officials said the fire broke out at the Bridgeway Pointe Assisted Living Center on West Galbraith Road in Hartwell.

Firefighters were called to the scene for a report of a woman on fire. When they arrived, workers found 80-year-old Louise Francis on the ground. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators said Francis relied on an oxygen tank. Those who knew her said Francis was a smoker.

Officials said damage to the building was limited.

[TSgt]

I guess she wanted to go out in flames...

[cubreporter]

I guess that's supposed to be funny.

[A CA Guy]

The elderly should not smoke while tired if at all.

[armymarinemom]

I had a patient catch his beard on fire during my first few weeks as a Nurse. The man was smoking while wearing a bi nasal cannula. He was yelping and slapping his own face when I walked in. I was surprised that he only got first degree burns.

[gov_bean_ counter]

Smoking is being blamed for a deadly fire on the campus of The Drake Center Saturday, News 5 reported.

I would say she was probably gone before she started smoking.

[Malichi]

Spontaneous Human Combustion? Or Burrito Night at the Assisted Living Center?

[WOSG]

"It's better to burn out, than it is to rust ..." - Neil Young

[Scarchin]

It is.

[umgud]

80 year old smoker? It sure took a long time for the cigs to finally kill her.

BTW;

Light a man a fire and he'll be warm for a day, light him on fire and he'll be warm the rest of his life.

[CindyDawg]

The elderly shouldn't smoke while on O2

[philetus]

menthol or regular?

[Michael Goldsberry]

Hey, like the bumper sticker says: "Smokers do it 'till they're dead!"

[I still care]

I had a friend who died when her clothes caught fire from a dishcloth she was carrying that had gotten a spark in it.

But I never saw a headline, "Woman catches fire, dies while carrying dishcloth." Or, A Dishtowel and Stove are being blamed today..."

[CindyDawg]

This center is going to be in trouble if they knew she was smoking.

[A CA Guy]

That is VERY true.

[toddlintown]

And now, a post or two from the right-to-smoke activists who like to disregard posts like these but can't wait to pounce on the another-regressive-tax on smokers headlines.

Bring it on.

[The Red Zone]

Firefighters were called to the scene for a report of a woman on fire. When they arrived, workers found 80-year-old Louise Francis on the ground. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Looks like SHE caught on fire, not the building.

[ladyinred]

No one will be allowed to grieve for her because she was a smoker and deserved what she got. /sarcasm

[octobersky]

Are assisted living centers and nursing homes generally smoke-free facilities or do they allow smoking in certain rooms or outside?