A 57-year-old woman was critically burned when she decided to smoke a cigarette while on oxygen, the state Fire Marshal’s office said.

Catherine Swidzinski is in critical condition at Maine Medical Center in Portland after the 8 a.m. fire was reported in Auburn.

There was minor fire damage to the apartment. Oxygen is highly flammable, and can cause serious injuries and explosion when exposed to heat or flame.


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.