Blaze That Sent Firefighter To Hospital Started With Cigarette

Oct. 13, 2005
Investigators said the owner of the home was smoking in bed.

A cigarette started an early-morning blaze that injured an Omaha firefighter, preliminary investigations show.

Fire officials said they received a call about the blaze at a home near 94th and Spencer streets at about 1:45 a.m. One firefighter had to be transported to a local hospital with a second-degree burn near his ear. Investigators said the owner of the home was smoking in bed and his cigarette started the mattress on fire. The firefighter was injured as the result of a flash over in the basement.

Two others suffered minor burns from the same flashover.

Officials said the fire caused about $10,000 in damage.

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