That dangerous combination started a blaze around 8 p.m. Thursday at Ogden's old St. Benedict's Hospital apartment complex near 3000 Polk Avenue, said police. Firefighters evacuated the entire building, which was converted into an apartment complex targeted toward the elderly and disabled as part of an Ogden City redevelopment project that began in 1981.

The fire ripped through the smoker's apartment, shattering the window and sending flames and smoke billowing out. Firefighting efforts left water drizzling down to floors below.

Now Krueger, 38, and six other residents who live directly adjacent to or below the smoker's fourth-floor apartment are forced to stay at a Days Inn. Krueger hasn't been able to sort through her property to see what survived, but knows many of her belongings are soaked and ruined.

Krueger, like many of the other 140-plus residents at the complex, has no renter's insurance. She likely will have to replace all her property by herself.

Krueger said many of the disabled and elderly people had trouble getting out of the building since they could not use elevators.

Thirty-two people were evaluated following Thursday night's evacuation, but only the man who started the fire was taken to the hospital, where he was treated for smoke inhalation and unknown injuries, said Deputy Fire Chief Chad Tucker. Eight others required oxygen, but Tucker said all were on oxygen prior to the blaze due to pre-existing medical conditions. Flames, smoke and water caused about $80,000 in damage.

The Utah Transit Authority brought in buses to temporarily house the evacuees and shuttle 75 to a nearby LDS church building. Red Cross workers at the church gymnasium helped Community Emergency Response Teams make hot chocolate, provide snacks and make arrangements for those in need.

Residents of all but eight of the apartments returned just before midnight Thursday.

Now, Krueger said she's just looking forward to getting back home and piecing things back together.

Vanessa Santana, 23, was apartment-sitting in the unit directly below the fire. Her mother had gone to Puerto Rico for the birth of her first granddaughter. Santana said her mom does not have insurance to replace her belongings, and she is downright mad at the man who started the blaze.

"You work so hard everyday, then you come home and see this," Santana said as she walked through the sopping apartment covered with shattered glass from a blown-out window. "We don't have any damaged pictures, thank God, but my mom is coming back Monday. And she's not going to come home to her comfy home. She's coming to this wet place."

sgehrke@sltrib.com