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Reports reveals cigarette ignited oxygen tank in deadly fire
Surviving victim remains in critical condition
By Stephanie Flemmons, Staff Writer
A preliminary investigation revealed a deadly fire was caused by a lit cigarette igniting a medical oxygen tank, killing one woman and critically injuring another Friday.
“We’ve had many medical calls to this residence,” Kerr said. “The deceased was a known smoker.”
About 4:15 p.m. Friday, a fire swept through the victim’s home at 1433 Amherst in central Plano. Juanita Adkins, 81, and her daughter, Susan, believed to be in her mid 50s, were trapped inside a bedroom they shared.
A caregiver living in an unattached portion of the house informed firefighters about the two women inside.
Floyd Jones, Plano fire spokesman, said firefighters were unable to locate Susan upon entry to the home, but located Juanita halfway down the hallway leading from the bedroom. She was transported by Care Flite to Parkland Memorial Hospital in critical condition. Hospital officials revealed Juanita still remains in critical condition, today.
Neighbors Leigh Anne Hickman and Dave Pawson said Susan was bedridden and her mother suffered from Alzheimers.
Kerr said the Collin County medical examiner’s preliminary report reveals Susan died from carbon monoxide poisoning, indicating she was alive at the time the fire ignited.
“Her carbon monoxide levels were extremely elevated, indicating she was poisoned from the fire,” Kerr said. “She did suffer burns, but the cause of death was ruled as smoke inhalation.”
This deadly fire ignited the same week fire officials protested a piece of legislation recently passed banning cities from mandating codes requiring certain residences be equipped with fire sprinklers. Although the Adkins’ 2,746-square-foot home would not have fallen under city code mandating fire sprinklers, Kerr stresses that homeowners can make their own decisions and have sprinklers installed to save lives.
“Sprinklers will activate after temperatures reach 160 degrees, which is about 45 seconds to a minute and a half of the fire beginning,” Kerr said. “They do two critical things, knock temperatures down and stop the spread of the fire.”
He said in this case that involves individuals who are delayed in responding to the fire, sprinklers would have made a difference.
“I can’t speculate if it would have saved her life, but they definitely would have helped,” Kerr said. “Fire sprinkler systems are there 24 hours a day and they will be there for whatever fire emergency that takes place. Fires start small and grow rapidly and their purpose is to stop it while it’s small and prevent life and property damage.”
The fire department is currently conducting studies as to how much of a difference a sprinkler system in the home would have made in this fire. He said investigators are conducting computer generated reports indicated how sprinklers would have reduced carbon monoxide poisoning.
“These life-safety devices are unfortunately misunderstood by the public,” Kerr said. “They are powerful in saving their lives.”
Contact Stephanie Flemmons at sflemmons@acnpapers.com
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