Cigarette May Have Caused Apartment Fire

Investigators say a flicked cigarette may have started an apartment fire in the 9000 block of Richmond Avenue on Thurday night.

It was first reported at 10:30 p.m in southwest Houston.

Responding firefighters found a small fire on the balcony of a third floor apartment unit at ‘The Aberdeen’ complex. Firefighters were able to put the flames out before they spread.

According to the Houston Fire Department, the residents of the burned apartment were home when the flames broke out. Apparently one of the tenants threw a lit cigarette out onto the balcony.

It hit the corner and rolled into a wooded area of the structure, which caught fire. The damage was limited to mostly the balcony.

The fire department says the situation could have been a lot worse, and emphasized how dangerous even the smallest of fire sources can be.