Russian hospital fire kills smoker

A fire at a hospital in the Russian city of St. Petersburg on Wednesday killed a patient, who is suspected of starting the blaze by smoking in bed.

The patient was treated for an intestinal disease in the Botkin Infectious Disease Hospital, TASS news agency reported.

The patient was poisoned with combustion products and found dead, the agency said, citing a spokesman for the St. Petersburg division of the Russian Emergencies Ministry.

The fire was eliminated by the hospital staff, and there were 274 patients and 87 staff members in the hospital when the accident occured, TASS said.