AURORA | Firefighters rescued an unconscious resident from a smoke-filled apartment early Monday after a fire, likely started by a discarded cigarette, broke out in a first-floor apartment unit in Aurora, Aurora Fire Rescue officials reported.
It was the second home-fire in a week in Aurora blamed on cigarettes. On Friday, 10 people were forced from their Aurora home after a back porch caught fire, ignited by someone smoking, according to Aurora Fire Rescue officials.
A neighbor in the 300 block of Potomac Circle called dispatchers at about 1 a.m. to report heavy smoke coming from the apartment unit, Aurora Fire Rescue spokesperson Eric Hurst said in a statement.
Firefighters rushed into the apartment and found an unconscious adult on the floor near a television, Hurst said. The unidentified person was taken from the apartment and treated for smoke inhalation by paramedics.
Firefighters extinguished the fire inside the apartment, within about 10 minutes after the call came in, stopping the blaze before it spread to other units.
One adult was transported to a hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation and is expected to recover, authorities said.
Investigators said the fire was accidental and was caused by “improperly discarded cigarettes,” Hurst said.
The fire caused minor fire, smoke and water damage inside the apartment unit. No other injuries were reported, and no residents were displaced.
No working smoke alarm?
Does not khow to discard a cigarette safely?
Lucky to be saved by Aurora FiRescue. Could easily have died from smoke inhalation.
Smokers have caused huge and fatal outdoor fires by littering their lit cigarettes out vehicle windows.