Boston Area News

PEABODY (WBZ) ― Fire investigators say the careless disposal of a cigarette caused a massive blaze at a Peabody apartment complex.  Investigators ruled the cause Friday as careless disposal of smoking materials, though natural gas is still being investigated as a possible contributing factor to the spreading of the fire.

While hundreds of residents of the apartment complex were being allowed back to their homes Friday after a massive fire, hundreds more will remain displaced into the weekend.

State Fire Marshal Stephen Coan said a mulch bed next to the building was ignited Thursday by the smoking materials.

The fire then spread to the building's exterior and consumed the entire four-story structure at the Highlands at Dearborn complex.

Coan said investigators don't know who might have discarded the smoking materials.

One of 18 large apartment buildings in the sprawling Highlands at Dearborn complex burned to the ground Thursday night. The spectacular blaze burned for hours, could be seen for miles, and brought traffic on nearby Routes 1 and 128 to a halt.

Everybody escaped the blaze unharmed, though one firefighter was treated for smoke inhalation.

"It's devastating, devastating," said Kim Maguire, who lost her two dogs in the fire. "I know they're gone.  I know they are.  You know, everything else I don't care (about) right now. I just have to do one day at a time."

All 900 of the complex's residents were evacuated and displaced for Thursday night. Building 8, which burned to the ground, housed 43 residents; only 27 of the building's 36 units were occupied.

At a meeting with residents Friday, officials announced that people living in buildings 1-6 and 12-14 would be allowed back into their homes in waves, throughout the afternoon and evening.  By Friday night, residents in buildings 1, 2, 3 and 13 were allowed to return to their homes.

Gas service has yet to be restored to the other buildings.

Residents of buildings 15, 17, and 18 are expected to be allowed into their homes over the weekend. Authorities expect to open buildings 9-11 by late Monday. Building 16 sustained heavy damage and it is unclear when those residents will be allowed to return to their homes.

The meeting between residents, authorities and the complex's managers was heated at times, with some residents angry, and concerned for their safety. Several residents had reported smelling gas in the days leading up to the fire, and say they reported the odor to the apartment management company.

Investigators are looking at a gas line in the basement of Building 8 as the possible contributor of the fire.

According to State Fire Marshall Stephen Coan, the building's sprinkler system was up to code, but there were no sprinklers in the attic or the basement. The existing sprinklers were sufficient to allow residents to escape before the flames spread out of control, but were not enough to extinguish the fire, Coan said.

A new provision of the state fire code that will take effect later this year may require full sprinkler systems in similar buildings, he added. 

When asked if he would feel comfortable returning to the building if he lived there, Peabody Mayor Michael Bonfanti said, "Based on the recommendation of the chief and the building inspector I would probably go back into that building."

An emergency service center for displaced residents is now open at the Marriott Hotel on Centennial Drive. An emergency helpline has also been setup for residents, 978-535-3994.

The Red Cross is accepting financial donations for displaced residents of the Highlands at Dearborn complex. You can make a donation by calling 800-564-1234.

This is not the first fire at the Highlands apartments. A $1 million blaze in March 2007 destroyed two apartments and forced the evacuation of nearly two dozen units.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)