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Fire possibly caused by smoking while on oxygen tank, again

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By Josh Sweigart, Staff Writer Updated 9:43 AM Friday, August 27, 2010

SPRINGFIELD — Smoking while using an oxygen tank may have caused the fire that sent Christina Milledge, 60, to the hospital Tuesday evening, Aug. 24, according to fire officials.

This is the second time Milledge is suspected of accidently setting herself on fire by smoking while on oxygen, said Springfield Twp. Fire Department Battalion Chief Dave Nangle.

“Same woman. Same apartment,” Nangle said. “(Last) time it just basically burned her face and got her hair and eyebrows and eyelashes.”

“It’s not an uncommon thing to see,” he said.

Tuesday evening, Milledge was flown by medical helicopter to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton with severe burns to her face and chest.

Emergency officials said her injuries did not appear life threatening.

The fire was reported shortly after 5 p.m. Tuesday in a duplex in the 2100 block of W. Possum Road. Nangle said when fire crews arrived they found the couch Milledge was sitting on smoldering and smoke had damaged the attached home, but the fire had not spread. Neighbors had broken out a window and were spraying a hose into the house, he said.

Clark County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Eric Holmes said the state fire marshal’s office is investigating the blaze but there is no indication of criminal activity.

“We’re looking at this as being an accidental incident,” Holmes said.

The state fire marshal’s office has not yet released a damage estimate.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2175 or jsweigart@coxohio.com.

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