By Steve Strunsky/The Star-Ledger on February 03, 2013 at 2:50 PM

SOMERVILLE —A 69-year-old Somerville man suffered severe burns on his face and hands in a fire that police say he started by smoking a cigarette while breathing from an oxygen tank.

“Not a good idea,” said Capt. George Fazio of the Somerville Police. “It’s an extremely dangerous act.”

The burned man, James Flood, was flown to a local hospital by a State Police helicopter that landed at nearby Somerville High School, about a block from the West Orchard Street fire, Fazio said.

Fazio said dispatchers received a call at 10:31 a.m. from a distraught woman reporting the fire, and police and firefighters who responded found the house engulfed in flames.

Fazio said Flood, was outside the house, with burns to his hands and face.

Fazio said other residents of the house told officers that Flood had started the fire by smoking while breathing with the oxygen tank.

Flood’s son also lived in the house, Fazio said.

Neighbors gathered on snowy sidewalks to watch firefighters douse the flames in frigid temperatures.

"Dogs got out, kids out, but the owner was burned," said Pamela Cartwright, who lives across the street. "I heard a pop and a scream for help, and saw flames coming out the first floor."

Cartwright said she was aware that the owner of the house used oxygen, and suspected that the pop she heard was the tank exploding.

Fazio could not confirm that the burned man owned the house.

The burned man, James Flood, was flown to a local hospital by a State Police helicopter that landed at nearby Somerville High School, about a block from the West Orchard Street fire, Fazio said.

Submitted on 02/03/2013

Submitted by: Anonymous
Reference: http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2013/02/man_injured_in_fire_started_bl.html#incart_river_default

Copyright © 2012 DarwinAwards.com

Candi said:
Definitely Toss: Too Common
Sorry, but people unable to kick the smoking habit even as it disables them are far too common today. We have many many many stories in our archives. Thanks anyway, and submit again!

Bruce said:
Definitely Toss: Too Common
As Candi said. Just search the archives for "oxygen" and you'll probably find dozens of stories virtually identical to this. Thanks just the same.

The Darwin Awards Gift Shop

The Darwin Awards Condom Keep yourself out of the gene pool! A condom in a matchbook, useful for emergency contraception, bachelor parties, frat parties, and important rites of passage. LOADED inside and out with funny quotes and stories. Everyone loves this item! Friends don't let friends reproduce! $13 for Pack of 4