Rogers Park man lights himself on fire
Posted by loyolastudentdispatch on August 2, 2011
A Rogers Park man is suffering from second-degree burns after lighting himself on fire Tuesday morning near his home.
Read the full story from the Chicago Tribune:
A man suffered second-degree burns after lighting himself on fire this morning in the Rogers Park neighborhood, a fire official said.
Fire Department crews were called to the 7200 block of North Sheridan Road about 8:50 a.m. to treat the man, who was believed to be 62 years old, said Chicago Fire Department spokesman Will Knight.
[Update: 3:45 p.m.]
The man, who was using a wheelchair, had gone to an outdoor patio at the nursing home, lit a cigarette, and placed his lighter in a pocket, said Chicago Police News Affairs Officer John Mirabelli. The man continued smoking, and somehow, his clothes ignited, Mirabelli said.
The man and another patient tried to douse the fire, and someone was able to put it out using a fire extinguisher, Mirabelli said.
The man suffered first- and second-degree burns and was taken in serious-to-critical conditon to St. Francis Hospital in Evanston, Knight said.
The man was being treated in critical condition, said Mirabelli, citing preliminary information.
