Burning Cigerette Destroys Trailer

Falling asleep while smoking means loss of a home and a trip to the hospital for a elderly woman in North Casper.

Casper fire-EMS reports that a trailer fire on West H Street did extensive damage. Spokesman, Pat McJunkin, says crews arrived on scene at around 3am to find a single-wide trailer about 25 percent engulfed in flames.

"A short time after they arrived they'd extinguished the fire. Before fire EMS units arrived, the police were on scene, and the single occupant of the home had evacuated, but she was in need of medical attention."

The woman sustained significant smoke inhalation injuries. She was taken to Wyoming Medical Center. McJunkin says as a precaution, neighboring residents were evacuated for a short time.

He says damage to the home was significant as well, "over 50 percent of the trailer itself and its contents were destroyed. The remainder of it suffered heavy smoke damage so the vast portion of the home was destroyed in the fire."

Fire investigators stress that smoke alarms can save a person from injuries like this.

They also stress the danger of smoking indoors, especially if you are in anyway impaired, including being sleepy. Their advice; extinguish smoking materials properly and make sure your smoke alarm is properly installed and the batteries are fresh.