Downtown Balcony Fire the Result of Improperly Discarded Cigarettes

MFD responded to a three-story residential building on North Hancock Street. Upon arrival, firefighters noted a small fire on the third-floor balcony with fire dripping down to the second-story balcony. 

Engine 1 set up a ground ladder to the second floor and used a water can to extinguish a small wooden bench that was burning. Ladder 1 set up at 35-foot ladder and used another water can to extinguish the small fire on the third-floor balcony. Ladder 1 entered the apartment, finding light smoke inside. Firefighters set up a fan to ventilate the apartment.

An occupant of the third-floor unit admitted to smoking on the balcony and putting cigarette butts out in a plastic planter. Ladder 1 verified that the plastic planter was the point of origin in this fire. The melted plastic dripped down to the second-floor balcony and ignited the bench cushion below, causing fire to spread to the bench itself.  

Damage was limited to the planter on the third floor and the wooden bench on the second floor. Nobody was injured or displaced.