Plano Apartment Fire Likely Caused By Burning Cigar

PLANO (CBSDFW.COM) - Investigators believe a lit cigar caused a Plano apartment fire over the weekend that has displaced 19 families.  No injuries were reported and fire fighters were able to rescue two dogs from the blaze.

The two-alarm fire started Sunday afternoon at the Saxony at Chase Oaks apartments in a building that contained 20 units.  All of them except one was unoccupied.

Investigators are still trying to determine the cause of the fire, but say it looks the fire started in the storage closet on the balcony of a third floor apartment.  The apartment resident told investigators that he was smoking a cigar on the balcony before the fire started.  He thought he put out the cigar before placing it in the storage closet.

Two apartment units received extensive fire damage, ten others have heavy water damage.  The American Red Cross is helping tenants who have been moved from their homes.

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• Plano
• Red Cross
• Fire