Smoking Materials Sparked Massive Cambridge Fire
CAMBRIDGE (CBS) – Investigators have determined that smoking materials caused a massive Cambridge fire last month.
The 10-alarm fire started December 3 in the area of 35/37 Berkshire Street after smoking materials were carelessly disposed of by subcontractors who were working at the home.
According to the investigation, smoking materials were thrown in or around recycling bins that had construction debris inside.
The fire spread to 18 buildings and left more than 100 residents displaced.
The new answers are only adding to the pain of those who were affected by the fire.
"I didn't start this. This wasn't my fault. It wasn't my neighbor's fault. Yet we're left with all of this damage and destruction in our neighborhood that's going to take forever to rebuild," Christina Jeffrey said.
Christina, like her neighbors, has been trying to stay positive. She can still hug her two cats that were miraculously saved from her burning home. But as she struggles with finances it's agonizing to think this could have been prevented.
"I know it's a mistake. I know that person, whoever it was, wouldn't have done that if they could take it back," Jeffrey said. "But it's just so frustrating to see how many people and families are struggling so much with this. It's disappointing, it's infuriating."
Fire investigators are still working to determine if criminal charges are appropriate.
Witnesses, photos and other methods were used to determine the cause.