Fire at large Woburn home likely started by smoldering materials, officials say

Authorities have concluded that a fire at a three-alarm home in Woburn over the weekend likely started after improper disposal of smoking materials.

The fire early Sunday morning left two children with non-life-threatening injuries, the Department of Fire and Rescue (DFS) said in a news release Tuesday.

The Woburn Fire Department responded to 1 Richmond Park after receiving multiple 911 calls around 3:45 a.m., according to the release.

Firefighters also spotted a young girl on the roof of the house, trapped by the flames, and deployed a ladder to the ground to rescue her, the Woburn Fire Department said in a statement.

Another child escaped through a window, according to DFS. The fire was extinguished in approximately 45 minutes, the press release said.

The two children in the home were taken to a Boston hospital for treatment. Three families were displaced by the fire and are receiving assistance from the Massachusetts Red Cross, officials said.

The Woburn Fire Department, Woburn Police Department and state police investigated the cause of the fire, DFS said. They determined the fire started on an enclosed porch and then spread to the third floor and roof, according to DFS.

“Although fire damage prevented a thorough examination of this area, investigators believe the most likely cause was improper disposal of smoking materials,” DFS said in the news release. “There is no evidence that the fire was set intentionally.”

State Fire Marshal Jon Davine warned the public of the importance of properly extinguishing smoking equipment. Fires started by improper disposal of cigarettes and other smoking materials have already caused four deaths in the state this year, Davine said.

“Smoking materials are the leading cause of fatal fires in Massachusetts and nationwide,” Woburn Fire Chief Donald Kenton said in a statement. “A fire like this, which occurred early in the morning while the occupants were still asleep, could easily have turned into a tragedy. »

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