AN elderly woman with breathing problems took oxygen to

protect her from smoke when a fire broke out in her home.

The woman is believed to have accidentally started the blaze

by dropping a cigarette in the bedroom of her bungalow in Jura

Avenue, Ripley.

A fire service spokesman said she had been inhaling oxygen

from a portable machine when the fire started due to a medical

condition.

He said: "We believe she dropped the cigarette and luckily

had moved into the lounge when the fire started.

"She had some form of breathing problem and so had several

machines to give her oxygen, including one in the bedroom and a

portable one which she had taken with her.

"When we arrived, she was suffering the effects of smoke

inhalation but fortunately was wearing an oxygen mask, so

wasn't too bad."

The fire, which happened at about 11.45pm on Friday, did not

spread from the bedroom into the rest of the bungalow, although

the room was badly damaged.