Smoking causes fire that kills one at Tucker nursing home

A fire killed a woman in her room at a nursing home in Tucker early Tuesday. According to the DeKalb County Medical Examiner’s Office, the deceased has been identified as Laura Barrett, 64. Barrett was a resident of the Meadowbrook Nursing Home on Lawrenceville Highway. DeKalb County Fire Chief Edward O’Brien said the fire was caused by Barrett smoking while using oxygen. Firefighters responded to the facility at about 3 a.m. The facility’s sprinkler system had already extinguished the bulk of the flames, which were contained to Barrett’s room.