CHESAPEAKE -- In just over a year, Chesapeake has seen three cases of people sparking fires by lighting up while hooked to an oxygen unit.

In two of the fires, people lost their lives, and in the most recent one last week on Nicholas Court, three people were seriously hurt and five more displaced.

Firefighters are hoping to raise awareness about these fires in hopes of preventing future ones.

Last week’s fire sparked when a 51-year-old woman on oxygen was smoking. The building caught on fire, and her fiancé tried to put out the fire, but was severely burned. He remains in a local burn unit.

“They literally inhale fire and the toxic gases, and that further exacerbates their problem and, unfortunately, it generally ends up with fatal results,” said Captain Steve Johnson of the Chesapeake Fire Department.

This week, Johnson is starting a public safety campaign to educate people about the dangers of smoking near oxygen.

“It’s given to people to help them sustain their life, and as long as they are using it correctly, they are in no danger, but when they are close to open flames, especially cigarettes, even a fire place, that is not a safe practice,” said Johnson. “You have to use due care and caution.”

Captain Johnson hopes everyone will take action and stop loved ones from making the mistake of smoking while on oxygen before more people are hurt.