Man Killed In Gardner Apartment Fire

GARDNER (CBS) – A man was killed in a fire late Tuesday night at an apartment complex in Gardner.

It started shortly after 9 p.m. in the Heywood Place housing complex off Central Street.

Fire Capt. Richard Ares told WBZ-TV the fire was accidental and contained to the living room of a third floor unit.

There's no word yet on the exact cause.

The victim's name has not been released yet.  Ares said he was in his 50's.  The state fire marshal said the man lived in the apartment.

This is the 12th fire death in the state this year.

The complex has more than 170 units and was originally a furniture factory.

When it was converted to apartments, Ares said it was made fairly "fire tight," which helped stop the flames from spreading Tuesday night.

The apartment below on the second floor has heavy water damage.

Ares said everyone besides those two units should be back in their apartments.

MORE LOCAL NEWS FROM CBS BOSTON