Fire marshal: Georgetown fire unintentional

By Globe staff

State fire officials announced today that a four-alarm fire at the Longview Apartments in Georgetown earlier this week was unintentional.

Investigators from the state fire marshal's office said the Jan. 3 blaze started on a third-floor balcony, but they have ruled out most accidental ignition sources.

A press release issued today stated, "We are unable to eliminate the improper disposal of smoking materials as a cause."

The fire at 7 Patriot Lane left dozens homeless and caused more than $1 million in damage.

"Code compliance officers in the Office of the State Fire Marshal are continuing to work with the Georgetown Fire Department to see if there are any lessons to be learned in order to prevent a similar occurrence either in this complex or elsewhere in the Commonwealth," Said State Fire Marshal Stephen Coan in a statement.

Coan added, "It is important to understand why there was this much damage in a sprinklered building."

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