An oxygen line laying on a piece of carpet at Fire Station No. 2 Thursday afternoon looked innocent enough — until fire was thrown into the mix. The oxygen line became a blow torch, burning a snake-like hole in the carpet as the fire burned through the line.
When the oxygen supply to the line was shut off, all that was left was a trail of charred carpet where the line sat. The fire also burned through linoleum. The demonstration was carried out at Fire Station No. 2 in response to a death earlier this week involving smoking and oxygen in the house. A couple of weeks ago, another person received second- and third-degree burns from the same combination of ingredients. In total, there have been three deaths in four years in Emporia related to people smoking when they are on medical oxygen, said Daryl Klumpe, Emporia Fire Department firefighter and investigator.
“It seems like we’re seeing a rash of this,” said Emporia Fire Marshal Tom Andrews.
The recent incidents led to Thursday afternoon’s demonstration. Oxygen line was laid on a piece of carpet, coiled up in some places. Oxygen was pumped into it from a concentrator machine. When the end was lit it burned slowly at first, with bright white tips on the end. When the tips came together, the tubing resembled a blow torch, scorching the carpet below it. Klumpe said to imagine that tubing attached to somebody’s nose and body. The initial heat from the ignite flash is enough to kill.
Andrews added that when a person wears oxygen 24 hours a day their clothes, hair and even the furniture can become oxygen rich. Klumpe demonstrated with an oxygen-saturated shirt what happens when clothing is oxygen rich. The shirt initially flashed with fire and then continued to burn, fueled by the continuous supply of oxygen.
“That’s just oxygen in clothing,” Klumpe said.
Klumpe said that it only takes 300-degree heat to kill a firefighter. The flashpoint heat from ignited oxygen can get to 1,800 degrees or more.
“If you can imagine that through your nose,” he said.
Klumpe said when oxygen is used in the home, it’s best to go outside to smoke — without the oxygen source.
Andrews said the problem is becoming more prevalent.
wyse_guy (anonymous) says...
Crack its people like you that causes colon cancer blowing your smoke up everybodys butt.
February 14, 2009 at 12:13 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
josiesbar (anonymous) says...
HAHAHA, wyse_guy!
That's the best one i've heard in a LONG time!!! AHAHAHA, that was GREAT!
February 14, 2009 at 12:28 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )