k1012 BC-KS-Smoking-FireFatal 11-01 0158

Olathe man dies in fire caused by smoking

Eds: APNewsNow.

OLATHE, Kan. (AP) -- A Kansas City-area man has died after a fire started when he smoked while using oxygen to help him breathe.

The 74-year-old man was pulled from an Olathe duplex Saturday night and rushed to a hospital, where he died.

The man's wife managed to get out of the duplex on her own. She suffered minor injuries from smoke inhalation.

Fire officials said the blaze was extinguished in minutes and caused about $5,000 damage.

The name of the man wasn't immediately released, pending notification of relatives.