Careless Smoking Leads To Extensive Fire Damage In Maryland Buildings

A fire that tore through several businesses and apartments in Brunswick on Sunday was caused by the careless smoking of one of the apartment tenants, according to the county fire marshal. The fire caused extensive damage to four businesses and three apartments that were built above the businesses in the first block of West Potomac Street. Fire marshals traced the fire’s origin to one of the apartments by analyzing burn patterns and talking to residents and others present, said Battalion Chief Kenny Poole, the fire marshal for the Frederick County Division of Fire and Rescue Services. Through further interviews with residents, investigators confirmed the fire was sparked by a cigarette.