Porch fire cause
ruled ‘undetermined’
PUTNAM — Putnam Fire Marshal Scott Belleville ruled a small fire that damaged first-floor porch of a Van den Noort Street multi-family residence as undetermined.
Nov. 24 Putnam Emergency Dispatch received a 911 call from a postal worker who reported smoke coming from underneath the porch at 76 Van den Noort St.
Belleville said a timely response from the Putnam Fire Department kept the fire from spreading to the rest of the home with minimal damage to the porch.
While on scene firefighters had discovered a second previous fire in potted plant located in the front yard that had burned itself out.
He said: “a comprehensive investigation by members of the Putnam Fire Marshal’s Office found that both fires were localized to planters containing organic potting soil with the porch planter burning through the porch flooring.  Most of the residents of the four-family apartment building admit to being cigarette smokers, making the possibility of ignition from an errant cigarette a possible factor. However, an exothermic reaction from the organic potting soil causing auto ignition could not be ruled out" so undetermined.

.