Three left homeless after cigarette ignites oxygen tank hose

LISBON — A woman who lit a cigarette while using an oxygen tank sparked a blaze that left three Lisbon residents homeless.

Lisbon volunteer firefighters say the fire started when a woman smoking a cigarette accidentally ignited the hose to her oxygen tank. Firefighters responded to reports of a structure fire at the residence of Arlene Snyder, County Route 28A, at about 3:30 a.m. Saturday.

The property was owned by Joseph E. King, of Pleasant Avenue, Ogdensburg.

Lisbon Fire Chief Jon A. McLear said he does not believe Mr. King or Ms. Snyder had insurance.

Mr. McLear said the house trailer was engulfed when firefighters arrived. He said 26 Lisbon firefighters responded along with members of the Heuvelton and Waddington fire departments. Morley volunteers were on standby at the Lisbon station. He said the fire was extinguished quickly but the house sustained irreparable damage.

The chief said Ms. Snyder told him she was smoking a cigarette when it ignited her oxygen hose. She panicked and dropped the hose, causing the fire to spread throughout the home, he said.

Mr. McLear said the trailer contained two or three oxygen tanks that exploded during the blaze.

Two other occupants, who were not identified, were in the house trailer at the time of the fire, but all three managed to escape before firefighters arrived.

"It's a good thing they made it out, because there wasn't much room for heroics on this one. It was engulfed when we arrived," Mr. McLear said.