NEWS

Woman's hair catches fire as she tries to light cigarette

Michael Anthony Adams
IndyStar

A woman's hair caught fire Thursday night while she was trying to light a cigarette, ultimately sending her to the hospital in serious condition, officials said.

The incident happened about 8:30 p.m. in the woman's condominium in the 3200 block of Lupine Drive on Indianapolis' northwest side.

Indianapolis Fire Department officials said the woman, 46, was getting ready to go out when she lit a cigarette and her hair started to burn. The woman tried to put out the flames on her head but caught nearby combustibles on fire, causing it to spread throughout the condo.

Speedway, Pike Township and Indianapolis firefighters responded to the scene and found heavy fire showing from the roof of the condo, fire officials said.

The woman and her Rottweiler puppy, Old Man, were outside the condo when firefighters arrived. Emergency medical personnel took her to Eskenazi Hospital in serious condition.

Fire officials estimate the fire caused about $80,000 in damage to the condo.

Call IndyStar reporter Michael Anthony Adams at (317) 444-6123. Follow him on Twitter: @MichaelAdams317 and on Snapchat: @michael389.