Smoking Material Blamed for West Newbury, Massachusetts, Garage Fire

🔥 The fire started at the house on Middle Street around 6:30 p.m. Sunday evening

🔥 A clearly identified house helped firefighters respond quickly to the fire

🔥 Careless disposal of smoking materials was blamed for the fire

Firefighters prevented a garage fire from spreading to the rest of a West Newbury house Sunday night.

The fire in the attic space above the attached garage at the house on Middle Street was reported around 6:35 p.m., according to West Newbury Fire Department Chief Michael Dwyer. Firefighters aggressively poured water on the fire, which helped bring it under control by 7 p.m. Crews remained on scene for another hour.

The occupants and their pets were able to evacuate and were not injured.

An initial investigation determined that the fire was caused by the careless disposal of smoking materials.

Firefighters from Georgetown, Groveland, and Newburyport, plus Atlantic Ambulance, responded to the fire.

Dwyer used the fire to serve as a reminder that homes by state and town bylaw must have address numbers clearly displayed, which helped firefighters quickly find this house.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com or via Twitter @DanAlexanderNH