Boston Fire Department Warns Against 'Trend' in House Fires

BOSTON, MA — Boston fire officials are warning of an uptick in fires started by carelessly discarded smoking materials, from cigarettes to cigars.

Fire Commissioner Joe Finn said Thursday there have been 50 such fires so far in 2016, whereas 2014 and 2015 each saw only 55 fires apiece caused by smoking materials.

The fire department said earlier this week a six-alarm fire in Charlestown was caused by a discarded cigarette. Finn said Thursday that an East Boston fire next to Santarpio's Pizza had the same cause. That's on top of a third, four-alarm fire that destroyed a home in Dorchester. All three fell within a five-day span.

"The common denominator was improperly disposed smoking materials," Finn said. "What we're seeing is a trend."

The fires displaced 54 people, and caused close to $10 million in property damage, he said.

Fynn said it's an improvement that people are smoking outside, not in, but stressed that smoking materials must be put out in sand or water. Even potting soil, for example, is potentially flammable, he warned.

>> Photo via Boston Fire Department