Maine Fire Marshals Say Destructive Fire In Norway Apartment Building Caused By Improperly Discarded Smoking Materials

The Maine Fire Marshal's Office says a fire that left occupants of an Oxford County apartment building injured and without a place to stay for the evening was started when someone discarded smoking material improperly.

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Authorities say that firefighters from Norway and multiple surrounding towns battled a blaze at 26 Cottage Street Saturday night, trying to save a 15-unit apartment building and its residents.

Dispatchers received a call reporting the fire right around 9 PM. When crews arrived, they were met with heavy fire from the building's front porch, extending into the first two units. While firefighters from several towns were able to ultimately get the fire under control promptly and prevent it from spreading too far into the building to affect all the units, there were some folks who were hurt in the effort, and many were left without a place to stay for the night.

The Maine State Fire Marshal's Office was brought in, following the fire, to investigate.

"Two tenants were transported to a local hospital for injuries sustained during the incident. Both individuals have since been treated and released...Based on scene examination and witness interviews, the fire is believed to have originated on the front porch area. Investigators determined that combustible materials, including hay and straw stored beneath the porch, were ignited by improperly discarded smoking materials. The cause of the fire has been classified as accidental, resulting from the improper disposal of smoking materials."

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Authorities say that thanks to working smoke alarms, occupants of the apartments were warned of the fire, giving them precious time to escape the flames. Since firefighters were able to contain the fire to the first few apartment units, for the most part, authorities say they expect some of the residents will be able to get back into their apartments soon.

It is anticipated that some residents will be able to return to their apartments in the coming days. Smoke alarms were activated and functioned as intended, providing early warning to occupants.

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According to a recent report conducted by the Maine State Fire Marshal's Office, smoking-related fires have led to over two dozen injuries in the last 5 years, and almost a dozen deaths.

"Between 2021 and 2023, cigarette-related incidents caused 157 structure fires in Maine, with 125 of those occurring in residential homes. These smoking-related fires are a leading cause of home fire deaths and injuries in the state, resulting in 11 fatalities and 33 injuries during that three-year period."

Fire experts recommend checking your smoke detectors frequently and disposing of smoking material properly, by making sure they are fully extinguished and putting them in a dedicated container (non-flammable) that's filled with water or sand. Something like a metal ashtray or can.