MANCHESTER — A local man died Tuesday night in a fire apparently set when he was smoking while using a home oxygen system, according to a release from the New Hampshire Fire Marshal's Office.

District Fire Chief Al Poulin said the 74-year-old man, identified by phone records as William Saxon, suffered burns to his legs and hands and likely inhaled “black” smoke given off by the breathing system's plastic tubes.

The fire happened about 6 p.m. Wednesday at the man's 107 Beech Hill Drive apartment, Poulin said.

“Anytime there's any type of plastic tubing, that can give off toxic fumes,” he said.

Poulin said Wednesday's fire, which officials said is not deemed suspicious, is one of several he's responded to in the last year involving someone smoking while using an oxygen breathing system.

“If anyone is on any type of oxygen, just don't smoke at all,” Poulin said. “It does create a flammable atmosphere.”