House Fire Caused By Smoking Near Portable Oxygen Tank

Madison Fire Department investigators say a fatal house was caused by the victim smoking near a portable oxygen device.  Two people were in the home on the city’s south side when fire crews arrived.  One of the people made it out, but emergency responders had to rescue 64-year-old Patrick M. O’Brien.  It only took eight minutes to get O’Brien to safety, but he didn’t survive.  The name of the person who got out hasn’t been released.  That individual suffered fire-related injuries and had to seek treatment.  Damage to the home was estimated at 125-thousand dollars.