State Fire Marshal’s Office & Portland Fire Department Release Cause & Origin of Noyes Street Fire

Portland, Maine - The Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Portland Fire Department today released the cause and origin of the fatal Noyes Street fire that occurred on November 1, 2014 and killed six people. The cause of the fire has been determined to be accidental in nature as the result of an improperly discarded smoking material. The fire originated in a smoking receptacle (see attached picture for example) which was placed on the front porch. The smoking receptacle was improperly utilized, placed on a combustible wooden floor, and next to combustibles which included recycling containers and furniture. The State Fire Marshal’s Office worked in conjunction with the Portland Fire Department and Portland Police Department on the investigation. Scientific testing and fire modeling conducted by the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) supports the conclusion of the investigators.

Because of the location of the fire and the time of day, the fire grew in intensity undetected. At the