Belfast, Maine Apartment Fire Displaces 7; Smoking Materials Blamed

A fire that climbed the outside of an apartment building in Belfast, Maine, left seven people without a home on Saturday, Oct. 31, and officials say a carelessly discarded cigarette is to blame. The case is a useful reminder that some of the most preventable apartment fires start outdoors, near the walls tenants live behind.

What happened

The fire was reported at the Bluebird Circle building at about 5:10 p.m., according to WGME, which gave the address as 10 Bluebird Circle. The Bangor Daily News put the time at 5:08 p.m. When firefighters arrived, flames were climbing the building's exterior, the Bangor Daily News reported. Crews held the fire to the outside and kept it from spreading into the apartments, WGME said.

One person went to a hospital with injuries linked to breaking a ground-floor window as the fire burned, both outlets reported. Neither described that person's condition.

Who was affected

Seven tenants were displaced. The public reports did not say how many apartments were damaged or what arrangements were made for the displaced residents, such as help from the Red Cross or the landlord, so we cannot say. Readers affected by a fire in a similar situation can find step-by-step help in our first-72-hours checklist.

The cause

Investigators with the Maine Department of Public Safety determined the fire was accidental and was most likely caused by improperly discarded smoking materials, Maj. Aaron Turcotte, a department spokesperson, told the Bangor Daily News. WGME said the State Fire Marshal's Office investigated and reached the same conclusion.

The Fire Marshal's Office used the case to repeat its standing advice: smoking materials should be put out completely and placed in sturdy, noncombustible containers, and they should never be dropped into mulch, plants or other combustible material near buildings, WGME reported.

What this means for renters

Fires that start on balconies, porches and the ground beside a building can reach siding, decks and roof overhangs quickly. Whether you smoke or a neighbor does, a few habits lower the risk:

• Use a deep, heavy ashtray with a wide base. A bucket of sand works well. Never use a plastic planter, a flower pot filled with potting soil or a cardboard box.
• Soak butts with water before throwing them away. Discarded butts can smolder for hours.
• Keep ashtrays away from the building's walls and from grills and gas lines.
• Report hazards to your landlord in writing. If tenants are tossing cigarettes into mulch beds by the entrance, ask management to provide proper receptacles. Landlords generally control what is allowed on common grounds and can post rules.
• Plan your exits before you need them. The person hurt in Belfast was reportedly injured while breaking a window. If a door or stairway is passable, use it; a window is a last resort, and broken glass is a real hazard.

Working smoke alarms and a practiced exit plan remain the best protection. Our guide to apartment fire safety covers alarms, escape routes and the most common risks.

Tenants who lose belongings in an accidental fire should also check their renters insurance. Landlord policies cover the building, not your things; see our overview of renters insurance after a fire.

Why smoking-related fires keep happening

Smoking materials are a long-running cause of home fires in the United States, and outdoor ignitions are especially easy to miss because the fire can build on siding, mulch or a deck before anyone inside notices. The Belfast case shows how quickly that can escalate: crews arrived to flames already climbing the building's outside wall. Property managers can reduce the risk by providing designated, non-combustible disposal containers away from the structure and by enforcing common-area rules; tenants can speak up when they see butts landing in landscaping.

What we could not confirm

The two reports differ slightly on the time of the call (5:08 versus about 5:10 p.m.), and only WGME gave a street number. We have attributed those details accordingly. We also left out any link to other incidents in Belfast, because none of our sources connected them to this fire.