OLATHE, Kan. – A 75-year-old man died after accidentally setting himself and his home oxygen system on fire Saturday night.
Authorities were called to the fire at 1039 N. Jan Mar Road shortly after 6:30 p.m. where firefighters found Jim Marconett and his wife Joyce in the house. Joyce says she tried to extinguish the flames herself.
"I did what I thought was right but apparently it wasn't good enough. It wasn't good enough," she cried.
Joyce and Jim had been together for 20 years and married for 18. She says they enjoyed traveling and visited Mexico frequently. But that all came to an end when Jim was diagnosed with lung disease and colon cancer.
A smoker for forty years, Jim had to rely on oxygen in order to breathe. Joyce said that didn't stop curb his smoking habit.
"If it wasn't for this stupid-ass cigarettes," said Joyce. " He always told me Joyce I don't have much of a live anymore. I said I know Jimmy, I know. "All I have to live for is you, cigarettes and scotch," he said.
Joyce and the first firefighter on the scene suffered smoke inhalation from the fire. She was transported with non-life-threatening injuries to the University of Kansas Hospital. The firefighter, who is also a battalion chief, refused treatment at the scene.
Firefighters we spoke to say it is more common than most people realize.
Joyce has a warning for others: "If you're on oxygen, don't light up a cigarette!"
Olathe Firefighters said the fire was extinguished shortly after 7 p.m.
Jim died at the burn unit early Sunday morning.
