Published: Thursday, September 21, 2006
Official: Smoking in bed caused fatal fire
CHAMPION — Smoking in bed is being blamed for a Monday night fire at a North Park Avenue rooming house in which a 43-year-old woman was killed.
Chuck Hanni, an investigator with the State Fire Marshal's Office, said Lisa Betts died because a lighted cigarette caught the bed on fire. Hanni said it is known that Betts frequently smoked in bed.
There were smoke detectors in the house at 5473 N. Park, but there were no batteries in them, Hanni added.
He said Betts died of smoke inhalation, and she also had second-degree burns all over her body.
Betts had gone to her second-floor bedroom to rest while dinner was being prepared. About 9 p.m., homeowner Judy Evans went upstairs to tell Betts that dinner was ready when Evans smelled fumes.
Evans and a tenant, Charles Mahan, put wet towels around them and attempted to go upstairs. They were driven away by flames and heat.
One neighbor complained that it took several hours for Hanni to arrive at the scene. Hanni said his log shows that he was notified at his Austintown home of the fire and arrived in Champion about an hour later.
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