Smoking materials determined to be cause of Newburyport bagel shop fire

NEWBURYPORT, Mass. — Smoking materials discarded into mulch led to the destruction of a Newburyport bagel shop Tuesday, said fire investigators.

Witnesses reported seeing giant flames and hearing explosions from Abraham's Bagels on Liberty Street around 4 a.m. Though the shop was damaged, fire officials said it is salvageable.

An investigation into the cause of the fire determined it to be accidental. Based on evidence of cigarettes in the parking lot and nearby mulch, fire investigators determined cigarettes thrown into the mulch led to the building fire.

“Mulch is a combustible material that can be easily ignited by improperly discarded smoking materials. Hundreds of small and large fires are started this way every year," said State Fire Marshal Ostroskey.

The Massachusetts Fire Code prohibits new mulch within 18 inches around combustible exteriors of buildings, such as wood or vinyl but not brick or concrete. Last year, 36 Apartments and six cars were destroyed because of cigarettes being thrown into mulch in Arlington.

Cox Media Group