Cigarette blamed for fire, man injured

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Firemedics rescued a 56-year-old man from a home in the 900 block of Tanglewood Drive East overnight Wednesday. Investigators say a cigarette is blamed on starting a fire.

A woman who lived at the home called 911 around 12:35 a.m. when she came home and noticed smoke. Firefighters arrived about five minutes later, and the woman unlocked the door to let them inside.

Once inside, firefighters found the man unresponsive on the floor in the living room. Firemedics brought him outside and treated his right leg and foot for second degree burns and smoke inhalation.

The man was transported to USA Medical Center, and is listed in critical condition.

Firefighters found the fire in the bedroom on the mattress and extinguished it. They found an ashtray on the bed and a pack of cigarettes beside the bed that the man said were his.

Fire investigators determined the fire started one of two ways; a lit cigarete carelessly discarded or the victim fell asleep and dropped a lit cigarette on the bed.

The woman who lived at the home told police the man had been staying with her for about two weeks.

Damage estimated at $5,000.