At the age of 67, Evon Wood vowed to kick the habit forever. Smoking had aggravated her emphysema and left her hauling around a canister of oxygen. The Redding, California, woman assured her sister that November 1st would mark the beginning of a healthier, cigarette-free life. Then, just two weeks before she began the path to feeling better, breathing easier and tasting her food, the bottom dropped out.

From the perspective of firefighters, the story begins with Wood’s panicked 911 call in which she told dispatchers that her mobile home was on fire, as were her clothes. The fire had started when she fell asleep and dropped her cigarette. In need of a walker and weighted down by an oxygen tank, Wood’s mobility was decreased. Assistant Fire Marshall Ray Johnson believes the oxygen tank hastened the spread of fire. By the time firefighters arrived, Wood was dead. Also lost were three dogs, two cats and 25 birds.

» Scott Saxon