NEWTON FALLS, Ohio (WKBN) — In two and a half years, 51 people in Ohio have died from smoking accidents. Fire officials said most of those deaths were caused by people smoking with oxygen.

To combat the problem, State Fire Marshal Fire Prevention Bureau Chief Anita Metheny demonstrated a device that could prevent an oxygen tank fire from spreading at the Newton Falls Joint Fire District.

This is called thermal fuse. It stops the flow of oxygen in case the pipe catches fire. Officials recommend having two of these on each oxygen line.

It’s not expensive, ranging from $4 to $7 each.

“We certainly don’t want you to smoke with oxygen, but if that happens, this device has the potential to save lives,” Metheny said.

The Newton Falls Joint Fire Department is one of approximately 60 Ohio fire departments participating in the State Fire Marshal’s initiative to bring these devices to the community.

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