Fire Officials: Smoking Materials Caused Washington Square Blaze

Fire officials believe smoking materials caused the Friday afternoon.

Fire Investigator Capt. John Payne of the said the after smoking materials were improperly disposed of.

Payne said a cigarette or ashes were thrown into a trash bag. With the high winds Friday afternoon, Payne said the ashes "smoldered" and the bag eventually ignited. Payne also said there were bamboo shades on the porch in the same vicinity, which also fueled the fire.

Together with Lt. Mike Leonard, Payne said investigators were able to "pinpoint where the fire started first" and the cause of the fire by listening to witness statements, including those from department members who

Investigators also looked at burn patterns and studied the locations of "least to most burn," to find some answers, Payne said.

is helping the individuals and families impacted by the fire.

Fire Officials: No Need to Tear Down Building

Despite the damage sustained, Fire Chief David Cody said the building will not have to come down.

Cody said the chimney is mostly "intact and the outside walls are not bulging out."

Cody also said the firewall did its job. Though the left side of building sustainted damage and in some places "there isn't a third floor," the right side of the building held up well.

"Depending on what the owner wants to do," Cody said, the building can be fixed. Cody said he anticipates the project would require "extensive work" that would take at least a year.