Woman dies following Republic house fire

A Republic resident is dead following a house fire on the 2700 block of Moonlight Street on Sunday, Nov. 26. According to a release distributed by the Republic Fire Department, the fire was caused by smoking while using medical oxygen.
The victim of the blaze, whose identity has yet to be released to the public, was a 73-year-old female. According to the release, firefighters rescued the female from the burning home at about 6:24 p.m., where she was then taken to a local hospital to treat her injuries. Unfortunately, she passed away three days later from related injuries. There were no working smoke detectors in the home to alert the resident.
Fire Chief Duane Compton said that the fire started due to smoking combined with the use of medical oxygen in the home, though only a small amount of fire damage was sustained.
“It basically burnt itself out,” Compton said.
Incorrect medical oxygen use
The fire department warned of the dangers of incorrectly using medical oxygen in the home. Our air normally contains only 21 percent oxygen, while the machines used to administer oxygen create a concentration of 100 percent, which can be flammable if not used in the correct manner. When in contact with a flame, oxygen can rapidly increase the growth of a blaze such as this. According to the fire department, oxygen can permeate most things in your home, including furniture, clothing, bedding, and even hair. This increased concentration of oxygen creates a higher risk of both fires and burns.
It is advised that oxygen cylinders in the home be kept away from open flames, electrical devices, and heat sources, as they could cause an ignition. In addition, those who may have difficulty escaping a fire should have a phone near their bed or chair and ensure that they have working smoke alarms.
Finally, the department states that residents should have a home fire escape plan ready with two ways to exit every room, practicing this plan twice a year.