Cigarette Starts Fire That Spreads to Roof Of Craigie Street Building

A two-alarm fire broke out at 70 Craigie St. in Somerville Monday morning, according to the city’s fire department.

Apparently the blaze began when an occupant of the building put a cigarette out in a potted plant. The blaze had engulfed much of the second floor’s back porch and spread to the roof by the time firefighters got to the scene.

All eight residents of the dwelling are currently without a place to live, and the fire department says the damage to the building should cost somewhere in the ballpark of $250,000.

Firefighters suffered minor injuries, however the building’s occupants all got to safety before they could come to any harm.

The Somerville Fire Department reminds residents that metal containers full of sand are the safest places in which to discard cigarettes.

Photos via Somerville Fire Department

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