Fall River Firefighters find Home Oxygen at Fault
June 1, 2026
Investigations into a deadly fire at the Gabriel House assisted living home in Fall River Massachusetts found that the fire started in a room where
Fires involving home oxygen are an all too common problem that claim lives and cause burns throughout the USA
They are a material public health issue. But there are solutions, including a small thermal fuse device, or oxygen firebreak, that shuts off the flow of oxygen in the event of a fire in the tubing.
About thermal fuse devices
Thermal fuses devices have been provided to all Veterans Health Administration (VA) home oxygen patients since 2018, but there are still hundreds of thousands more who could benefit from them.
The States of Iowa, Washington, North Dakota, Missouri and Kansas have opted to reimburse (fund) home oxygen providers for bidirectional thermal fuses through their State Medicaid systems. This required the states to make a simple change to their Medicaid policy. The policy change came about thanks to the efforts of many people, including fire professionals and healthcare practitioners, who are passionate about making a difference and saving lives.
Specialist expertise championing the issue
Raymond A. Reynolds, MA, CPM, CCP
Director of Fire & EMS/Police Officer
“There are over 1.5 million people in the U.S. on home oxygen to manage various respiratory conditions and research suggests the number of COPD patients requiring home oxygen therapy will rise dramatically as the population ages. This means it is even more important that we act now.”
Greg Rogers
International Association of Fire Chiefs, Fire and Life Safety Section Chair
“As a retired Deputy Fire Chief, I understand that safeguarding lives and property is paramount. The integration of thermal fuses devices into our fire safety protocols is a critical step in preventing potential disasters and reducing fire fatalities. By stopping the flow of oxygen during a fire, these devices serve as a reliable line of defense, automatically cutting off the fuel for the fire and significantly reducing the risk of fire escalation.”
About home oxygen therapy
Around 16 million people have been diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (COPD) in the US – around 1 in 8 people over 45. Of these, an estimated 1.5 million require home oxygen therapy (HOT).
HOT increases the levels of oxygen in the blood, relieving symptoms such as breathlessness and fatigue, and is an important treatment for patients with lung conditions. This treatment is delivered in various forms: an oxygen concentrator (that concentrates oxygen from the atmosphere), liquid oxygen (delivered in large containers or ‘dewars’), and gaseous oxygen (cylinders).
Understanding the problem in the US:
An estimated 100-150 people a year die in home oxygen fires in the US
Over 1,200 people a year suffer burn injuries
25% of incidents result in a whole house fire
Two firefighters were killed between 2017 and 2021 attending home oxygen fires
30-50% of home oxygen patients smoke, the leading cause of home oxygen fires
Understanding the problem in the US
An estimated
100-150
people a year die in home oxygen fires in the US
Over
1,200
people a year suffer burn injuries
25%
of incidents result in a whole house fire
Up to
52%
of home oxygen patients smoke, the leading cause of home oxygen fires
Finding a solution
A collaborative, multidisciplinary approach has seen a dramatic reduction in home oxygen fire deaths in England. Similarly, in Washington State, medical, Fire-EMT services, and home oxygen providers are working together. This includes conducting risk assessments, educating patients, and installing smoke alarms.
The use of a safety device – a thermal fuse (firebreak) – that stops the flow of oxygen in the event of a fire in the tubing (now used in 25 countries around the world) is also part of this approach. Between 2013 and 2017, only one home oxygen fire death was recorded in England where thermal fuses are universally used, among a patient population of around 80,000. That’s around 20 times fewer than the US.
This approach is increasingly being adopted across parts of the United States. Washington, Iowa, and North Dakota began providing coverage for bidirectional thermal fuses through their state Medicaid systems in 2023, alongside installation initiatives led by multiple fire departments. South Dakota and Kansas has since adopted this approach, and Missouri has mandated its use state wide.
Find out how to seek funding for thermal fuses in your state.
Join the cause and find out how you can help to protect your communities and firefighters
Stay up to date with latest news
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