Senior dies from fire injuries
Posted Dec 23, 2010 07:37:13 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Kitchener Fire officials confirm to 570 News an 82-year-old woman is the city’s first fire-related death in two years.
Mary Puffer died Dec. 9 after a fire the day before on Franklin St. N. in Kitchener — that information was only released by the Kitchener Fire Department this week.
Puffer was apparently working with a decorative lighter of some kind, when the lighter fluid spilled on her clothing and ignited.
Platoon Chief, Tim Bernier tells 570 News they don’t want to see anymore injuries or fatalities from this kind of incident.
Bernier says the Fire Department will be educating seniors — and their children who may need to look after them — to never try to self-extinguish a fire, and to always call 9-1-1.
Bernier says seniors are typically hesitant to call 9-1-1.
Bernier says they will also teach seniors the dangers of working around fire and flame while wearing loose fitting and/or synthetic fibre clothing.
He says “clothing choice was an issue” in Puffer’s death, as it was in the last one from two years ago.
Bernier says smoking, cooking, and candles also remain major factors in causing fire.
