60 persons killed in fires caused by burning cigarettes this year

A man aged 64 from Climauti, Donduseni, was found dead by relatives in his bed destroyed by flames. It was established the man fell asleep with a burning cigarette, which caused the fire, Info-Prim Neo reports. Emergencies Service spokeswoman Dorina Cruc said smoking in bed is the cause of every fifth fire and every second death caused by carbon monoxide poisoning. Most of the times, the victims of such fires are under the influence of alcohol. According to specialists of the Emergencies Service, the cotton bedclothes can catch fire from a burning cigarette in about 30 seconds. A number of 121 persons have been killed in the 1,474 fires that happened in Moldova so far this year. Sixty persons lost their lives in fires caused by burning cigarettes.