|
> > Current News
|
Apartment Fire Caused by Cigarette
|
Police: Fire caused by teen disposing of cigarette
Friday, July 10, 2009 12:03 PM EDT
GLENS FALLS -- Police believe a teenager who improperly disposed of a cigarette was to blame for the Tuesday night fire that gutted a Lawrence Street apartment building.
Glens Falls fire investigators traced the fire to a second-story porch at 44 Lawrence St. Fire Chief Ray Ives said the cause has been labeled accidental through "misuse of smoking materials."
Glens Falls Police Detective Sgt. Peter Casertino said he worked with fire investigators to interview occupants of the home, and one of the teenage residents admitted smoking on the porch about 45 minutes before the fire.
The teen said he tried to flick the cigarette out a window when someone entered the apartment, but did not see if the butt actually got out the window, Casertino said.
"That was about the right time frame for the fire," he said.
The teen, whose grandfather owns the building, was not identified and probably will not be charged, Casertino said.
Four people were left homeless by the blaze.
One resident, Vance Bapp, suffered minor injuries when he jumped out of a second-story window. Glens Falls firefighter Dan Girard also suffered a minor leg injury in the blaze.
|
| Return to Current News |
| This Story Was Updated:
7/10/2009
|
