Discarded Cigarette Sparks Midtown Blaze

A Toronto homeowner has learned the hard way, just what kind of damage that a discarded cigarette can do.

Toronto Fire crews were called to a home at 25 Martin Road (in the Bayview and Mount Pleasant Road area) around 3 o'clock Wednesday afternoon for a fire. When crews arrived, they found the front of a semi-detached home fully engulfed in flames.

Platoon Chief Robert Head says firefighters began an aggressive attack to get the fire under control, using several pumper trucks at the scene. "Fire damage was extensive to the exterior, and the interior has some heavy smoke damage", Head told CFRB News.

Fortunately there were no injuries in the blaze, which later destroyed a portion of the home next door.

As for a cause, the Platoon Chief believes they have a good idea: "Apparently someone had been smoking outside, discarding their cigarette, which tumbled under the front porch. By the time they had gone back to try and put it out themselves, the fire had gotten so advanced, it required us coming here."

The Platoon Chief believes old, dry debris underneath the porch, coupled with dry spring conditions quickly fuelled the blaze. "Once the cigarettes get in there, they're like a torch."

Head reminds smokers to be aware of where they are discarding their used cigarette butts, pointing to Wednesday's fire as an example of just how quickly they could get out of control.

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