Smoking Caused North Bow Street Fire: Fire Marshal

MILFORD, MA- The fire on North Bow Street back in February was caused by the improper disposal of smoking materials, according to the state Fire Marshal.

A fire tore through a multi-family home at 16 North Bow St. on the night of Feb. 6. According to State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey and Milford Fire Chief William J. Touhey Jr., the fire started on a sofa in the second floor living room where a woman had fallen asleep smoking. Multiple packs of Seneca Red filtered cigars, which are not required to be fire standard compliant as cigarettes are, were in the area where the fire started according to a statement released by the state Fire Marshal.

One woman was injured in the fire and had to be taken to Boston Hospital and 10 people were displaced. An off-duty police dispatcher spotted the fire on his way home from his shift and jumped in to help. Within minutes he was joined by Milford police officers who sweep the building and evacuated residents.

Fire officials said about ten residents were displaced by the fire. The building's landlord brought all displaced residents to a hotel for the night.

State Fire Marshal Ostroskey said, “About one-third of fire deaths in Massachusetts are the result of fires started by smoking materials. Fire officials urge smokers to put them out, all the way, every time.”

Chief Touhey said, “We want smokers to live long enough to quit. One way to stay awake while smoking is to only smoke outdoors. But be sure to use a metal can with sand for extinguishing smoking materials.”

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