Smoking while on home oxygen caused fatal Andover fire, investigators say

File photo.

ANDOVER, Mass. — An 85-year-old man was killed after smoking while on home oxygen, fire investigators announced Friday.

Nicholas Rizzo II died in a fire in his fourth-floor apartment in Andover Thursday morning. The fire originated in her apartment and investigators said there was evidence of smoking in the presence of home medical oxygen.

“Fire is a tragic way for a long life to come to an end,” State Fire Marshal Peter Ostroskey said. “Massachusetts has on average 5-6 fire each year with 1-2 deaths and 4 injuries from fires involving medical oxygen.”

The fire on Railroad Street was investigated by the Andover Fire and Police Departments with state police.

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