A resident died at an Escondico, CA, nursing home after his oxygen tank burst into flames, according to the San Jose Mercury News. The 67-year-old man was reportedly sitting outside at Palomar Heights Care Center and smoking a cigarette while his oxygen was turned on.

SNF employees sprayed him with a fire extinguisher after the tank exploded, but the man later died of burns and inhalation at a nearby hospital.

California’s Department of Health Services is investigating, the Mercury News reported.

PUBLISHER'S NOTE: While many will scoff at the stupidity of allowing this to occur, I personally consult at hospitals across the country, and the sight of patients outside with IV poles connected while they smoke is common in 90% of these site. Portable O-2 is observd at approximately 20% of the facilities -- especially with patients with their own portable system.

Risk managers need to re-think their smoking policies, and at least provide supervised smoking safety and a less visible area. Smokers hanging around the entrance to the hospital with a blue haze of second-hand smoke for visitors to walk through does nothing for you hospital's reputation for quality.