Published: April 14, 2009 02:20 pm      

FIRE: Cigarettes cause multiple structure fires in Medina

The Medina Fire Department responded to two structure fires in two days, both with one common factor: The fires were blamed on carelessly discarded cigarettes.

• Shortly after 5 p.m. Monday, firefighters responded to a possible fire in the bathroom at Burger King, 11212 Maple Ridge Road. Fire crews arrived to find smoke from the noutside wall and in both rest rooms. After using hand tools to open the ceilings and walls in the rest rooms, crews were unable to locate fire. Crews then exited the structure to further examine the smoke puffing from an exterior corner of the building near the main entrance. They opened the exterior wall and located fire in a concealed stud space. Firefighters extinguished the fire and performed extensive overhaul on the exterior wall and as well as in the women’s rest rooms.

Medina fire investigators located several cigarette butts at the base of the building in the area where the fire began.

Employees stated that many patrons will discard their cigarettes at the door prior to entering the building. Fire investigators determined a carelessly discarded cigarette smoldered and caused the exterior of the building to catch fire.

According to reports, the fire then traveled up and into the concealed space, where it likely smoldered and remained hidden for several hours until a patron detected the odor of smoke and found smoke present in the women’s rest rooms.

The Orleans County Health Department also responded to the scene, as well as Medina’s code enforcement officer. Fire crews cleared the scene just before 7 p.m., and the business remained closed. It is unknown at this time when it will reopen.

• At 5 p.m. Sunday evening, Medina firefighters were dispatched to a fire on the exterior of a residence at 1025 Elm St. Arriving crews found a fire in the wall of an enclosed porch. Fire crews were able to quickly extinguish the fire and prevent if from extending into the home.

The home owner reportedly “butted” her cigarette out against the side of her house and then placed the butt in a plastic garbage can adjacent to the building. The butt smoldered and caught the garbage can on fire, according to reports. Fire then spread from the garbage can into the wall of the home. The smell of smoke alerted the homeowner, who then called 911.

The Medina Fire Department was assisted at both fires by crews from the Shelby Volunteer Fire Co. and a firefighter assist and search team from the Lyndonville Fire Department.