SAN LUIS OBISPO – A woman has been hospitalized with severe burns from a house fire in Atascadero that authorities say was caused by smoking.
Atascadero Fire Capt. Tom Peterson says the woman, whose identity has not been released, was found alone in the back of the one-story home Wednesday. She was burned and unable to talk to firefighters.
Paramedics put the woman on life support and took her to Twin Cities Community Hospital in Templeton. She was later transferred to a burn unit at University Medical Center in Fresno.
Fire officials say smoking started the blaze. They estimate about $75,000 in damage to the home and another $25,000 to its contents.
Peterson says the house did not have sprinklers or smoke detectors.
Information from: The Tribune, www.sanluisobispo.com