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52 °F Forecast | Road Cams Friday, January 28, 2005 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Opportunities Moving to Southern Oregon? MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend January 13, 2005 Smoking in bed was likely cause of blaze By JACK MORAN Mail Tribune Investigators believe a dropped cigarette is the most likely cause of a fire that damaged a Medford duplex and nearly claimed the life of a woman who leaped into her neighbors’ arms from a second-story window after her bedroom filled with smoke and flames. Officially, the cause of the Jan. 4 fire inside Margaret Rose Wilson’s apartment in the 3900 block of Arrowhead Drive is undetermined. But investigators believe it probably began when Wilson dropped a lit cigarette onto her bed after falling asleep, said fire inspector Debi Bisbee of the Medford Fire Department. "It was definitely an accident," Bisbee said. "The most probable cause was her smoking in bed." Wilson, 42, was discharged Friday from Rogue Valley Medical Center and has since left the area with her boyfriend, Bisbee said. Wilson was initially admitted to the hospital in critical condition after inhaling a large amount of smoke during the fire. "She is feeling real well," Bisbee said. "Her throat is still sore, but it doesn’t look like there will be any long-term damage." Advertisement Wilson told Medford police she was a smoker, but didn’t recall lighting a cigarette before falling asleep, Bisbee said. "(Wilson) said she did not remember what had happened, but said that if she had to guess, it probably started when she passed out with a cigarette in her hand," Bisbee said. Wilson escaped her apartment after a neighbor heard her crying out for help from her second-story window. The neighbor, Matthew Watkins, and his friend, Jeff Trouslet, caught Wilson after convincing her to jump into their arms from the burning apartment. Wilson was unconscious and barely breathing when firefighters arrived. Medford firefighter Chuck Glose, a paramedic, arrived at the scene and was able to clear an airway for Wilson to help her breathe. An RVMC doctor said Glose’s quick work probably saved Wilson’s life, Bisbee said. Reach reporter Jack Moran at 776-4459, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Student Loan Consolidation Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers