Beverly fire blamed on burning mulch
Investigators believe burning mulch touched off the five-alarm fire in Beverly that left about two dozen people homeless.
The fire destroyed the 12-apartment home on Mill Street in Beverly's downtown area on Sunday.
Fire officials say a resident thought he had extinguished the burning mulch earlier in the day, but it apparently continued to smolder unnoticed and then caught on to flammable material.
One police officer and a handful of residents were treated and released from a hospital with minor injuries and smoke inhalation.
Officials say the building is a total loss and will have to be torn down. Two cars parked in front of the building were also destroyed.
