Ok, will try to provide a quick update - need to get on the road soon.

The patient was being transported from one hospital to another - was on the stretcher with the head raised at a 45 degree angle. The patient was being administered oxygen as a procedural manner. The patient was also hooked up to a Zoll heart monitor, also as a procedural manner. As the ambulance neared the receiving hospital, the paramedic had disconnected the oxygen line from the on-board system in order to connect it to the portable bottle which was attached to the stretcher. The Zoll monitor was also laying on the stretcher (both were under the raised head end of the stretcher). Ignition occurred. The paramedic's arm, a pillow, a portion of the stretcher, the oxygen line, the heart monitor leads, and maybe one or two other small items were all that were damaged. Ignition and resluting damage are confined to an 18" x 18" x 18" area. There is a loss of material (aluminum??) on the regulator.

I have marked the relevant portions in John Lentini's book (and several others) for review.

There are alot of documents on the NIOSH and FDA web site addressing this issue.

I remember previous postings about whether or not oxygen can burn and have always considered it to be the "enabler" more than the fuel.

I also remember Pat's postings on Fire Investigation by Forum Posting, but this is an interesting case and will update the Forum when I know more. We are removing the evidence tomorrow, but with a busy week already scheduled, I am not sure when I will update the board.

I appreciate all of the postings and emails - all contribute to the full consideration of each and every conceivable scenario.

Thanks-