An early-morning fire that killed a man in Lowell, Massachusetts, on Thursday was likely started by smoking materials, fire officials said.
Lowell firefighters responded to 6 Barton Ave. shortly after 3 a.m. to find heavy fire showing from the third floor of the home. They made entry while fighting the blaze and found an adult male, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
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The victim's name is being withheld pending formal identification and family notifications.
Eight other residents of the building have been displaced, the state fire marshal's office said.
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Fire investigators said Thursday that the most likely cause of the fire was smoking materials. Smoking is the leading cause of fatal fires, according to Lowell Fire Chief Phillip AJ Charron.
The fire was jointly investigated by the Lowell Fire Department, Lowell Police Department, and State Police assigned to the State Fire Marshal’s and Middlesex District Attorney’s office.
No further information was immediately available.
