Myron Korach, a 100-year-old Florida resident, escaped a fire started by a cigarette when his companion of 25 years fell asleep while smoking. She did not survive.

The Fire

"Well, I was awakened by my smoke alarm. When I looked out my bedroom door, I could see the doors to the porch were shut. When I noticed the fire, I yelled out to her. I wouldn't allow her to smoke in the house, so she must have been smoking on the porch. I kept calling and she didn't answer.

"Had I gone out to find her, neither one of us would have remained. I have arthritis in my knees, and I can't walk very fast. I was maybe 30-40 feet away from where she was in the fire.

"After I called 911, the lights went out. I knew where I was going, but I had to grope because it was pitch dark. The fire department must have just come because they escorted me to an outside place to sit down. Afterwards, you could see my blackened hand marks on the wall where I was groping in the pitch dark.

"Later, I learned that one of the firemen found her unconscious in the kitchen. She must have opened the door and crawled into the kitchen. If I had gone to her, that would have been the end of me, but I would have gone if I could have saved her."

Advice To Others

"During the fire, I was in shock. I didn't remember that I always keep a flashlight on the floor next to my bed. But by the time I went to the telephone a few feet away, I had forgotten all about it. People should keep a flashlight on the table next to their beds where they can grab it immediately and find their way out."

What You Can Learn From Myron's Experience Install smoke alarms in your home and keep them in working order. If you smoke, consider quitting or refraining from smoking in your home. Do not allow others to smoke in your home. Never smoke in bed or when sleepy. Extinguish smoking materials thoroughly to prevent discarded cigarettes and ashes from igniting other materials. Develop an escape plan that addresses the abilities of every member of your household, and practice it often. Practice the plan at night, too, as most fatal home fires start while people are asleep.

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