Officials: Smoking Likely Cause Of Fatal Fire In Chelmsford
CHELMSFORD (AP) — Massachusetts officials say smoking was the likely cause of a fire at an independent living center for seniors in Chelmsford that killed a 76-year-old woman.
The apparent cause of the fire on Tuesday at Summer Place in Chelmsford Center was announced Friday by State Fire Marshal Stephen Coan, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan, Chelmsford Fire Chief Michael Curran and Chelmsford Police Chief James Spinney. They say the probable cause was the improper disposal of smoking materials.
Officials said the fire began in Marion Guarino's bed in her apartment and she later died at a hospital.
Coan says Guarino was the 56th fatal fire victim in Massachusetts in 2014. He says smoking is the leading cause of fire deaths in the state and says it's never too late to quit.
Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
MORE LOCAL NEWS FROM CBS BOSTON
