NORTH ROYALTON, Ohio — For the residents at Sunrise Cove Condominiums in North Royalton, all they could do was watch in horror when one of the units went up in smoke. Many of them knew the woman who lived there.
"My sister would drop me off, and she's like, 'All you could smell is cigarette smoke," a tenant named Chris, who lives across the hall, recounted to 3News.
And Stan Lekarev, who lived in the home above, claims she smoked 24/7.
"When I mean 24/7, I mean 24/7," he emphasized. "Cigarette after cigarette."
And unfortunately, North Royalton Fire Chief Robert Chegan confirms it was indeed a cigarette that caused this fire that left the unit charred and the sidling melted on Sunday. The female tenant died, while two others were injured.
"Basically, it was careless disposition of smoking materials," Chegan said Monday.
Witnesses reported hearing at least two explosions, describing it as like a bomb going off.
"The resident was on home oxygen," Chegan explained. "Unfortunately, and due to the intensity of the fire, those cylinders exploded."
According to the chief, the complex was built years ago with masonry walls, which he believes saved many lives. He adds that while oxygen itself is not flammable, an oxygen-rich environment can cause materials to ignite more easily and burn quickly.
Chris told us the HOA warned the deceased condo owner not to smoke inside her home because of the supplemental oxygen.
"She claimed, 'I own it, I could do what I want in my apartment,'" Chris recalled her saying.
The victim's name has not been released pending family notification. According to the Ohio State Fire Marshal's fire prevention data, around 20% of all fire deaths are related to smoking, with most victims smoking while on oxygen.