Woman, 64, dies after hospital fire

NORTHWEST ARKANSAS — A Eureka Springs woman died Tuesday, more than two weeks after being burned while smoking in her Missouri hospital room while using supplemental oxygen.

The fire occurred Feb. 6 while Eileen Moorehouse, 64, of Eureka Springs was hospitalized at St. John’s Hospital in Springfield, Mo., said assistant fire chief Randy Villines of the Springfield Fire Department.

A hospital spokesman, Cora Scott, said federal patient privacy laws prevented her from discussing most details of the case, including whether the patient died from the illness that led to her hospitalization or complications from the fire injuries.

Smoking is forbidden throughout St. John’s entire campus, Scott said.

Villines also did not provide specific information on the patient’s cause of death but offered some findings from the investigation.

“My understanding is shewas in her chair in her hospital room, under a blanket, smoking while her oxygen was on,” Villines said.

After the fire ignited, it triggered a hospital fire alarm, he said.

“A nurse entered the room, grabbed a fire extinguisher off the wall and put the fire down,” Villines said.

The fire marshal who investigated determined Moorehead suffered second-degree burns to her face, neck and right arm, Villines said, adding that the Fire Department investigates all fire injuries reported within the city limits.

The department hasn’t determined how the patient got the cigarettes but did find evidence that there had been smoking in the room, Villines said.

Scott and Villines confirmed Moorehouse died Tuesday.

Moorehouse was admitted to St. John’s on Jan. 7, Scott said, but she could not release the reason for her hospitalization.