Eagan Chief: Popular 'Butt Can' Source Of Complex Fire
EAGAN, Minn. (WCCO) -- Eagan's fire chief said a popular type of cigarette butt receptacle was the source of a fire that displaced more than 100 people from the LeMay Lake Apartments on Monday night.
Some residents had to be rescued from balconies.
"It's amazing that nobody got hurt," said Eagan Fire Chief Mike Scott.
NewsRadio 830 WCCO's Steve Murphy Reports
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He said a few dozen residents may not be able to return due to heavy damage to their units. It's all due to a plastic, long-necked cigarette butt receptacles, widely-used at commercial buildings, which often get filled with trash which is then ignited by ashes.
"Many of these containers are made out of plastic and, of course, once the plastic gets burning next to vinyl siding, it's just a recipe for disaster," Scott said.
The chief said he's now urging building managers to clean out receptacles and, better yet, purchase metal versions.
