Fire forces evacuation of Hyde Park complex

A two-alarm fire forced the evacuation of a housing complex for the elderly in Hyde Park last night, said Stephen MacDonald, Boston Fire Department spokesman.

No injuries were reported. Residents of 269-unit Blake Estates were hustled onto three MBTA buses in the parking lot of a Shaw's supermarket across Hyde Park Avenue, MacDonald said.

The fire, which was reported about 10:20, was caused by the errant disposal of a cigarette in a couch in a first-floor apartment, MacDonald said.

Smoke spread down the wing where the fire started to the second and third floors, but damage was contained to three first-floor apartments, MacDonald said. There was fire damage in the apartment where the fire started, and smoke and water damage in two other first-floor apartments, he said.

The fire caused an estimated $100,000 in damage, fire officials said. Residents were expected to be let back into their apartments overnight, MacDonald said.

Donald Giovanella, 63, who has lived in the complex for 2 1/2 years, said he dozed off in his first-floor apartment with a cigarette in his hand and woke up to the smell of smoke.

He said he saw the cigarette smoldering between cushions and poured water on it to douse the flames. He said the apartment security guard came in after the alarm went off, and they positioned a fan to blow the exhaust outside the apartment window.

He went upstairs thinking the fire was out and then heard the alarm sound again.

Globe correspondents Marc Robins and Dan Peleschuk contributed to this report.