Boston Fire That Destroyed Historical Venue Likely Caused by Cigarette

A cigarette thrown into a pile of mulch caused a three-alarm fire that demolished a landmark in a Boston-area town on Saturday night.

A fire official told the Boston Globe that the flames quickly spread to historical venue The Lakeview Pavilion nearby.

"It looks like a cigarette was thrown into some mulch and the fire erupted from there and spread to the building," Foxborough's Deputy Fire Chief Steven Bagley told reporters at the scene of the fire the following day.

The blaze chewed through Lakeview Pavilion, located around 23 miles away from Boston, while a wedding reception was going on inside the venue.

None of the estimated hundred guests at the reception sustained any injuries, the Globe reported.

Fire department officials in Foxborough were first called to the scene at about 7 p.m. on Saturday. They received an automatic alarm directly from Lakeview Pavilion, which lies just east of Route 1.

Fire authorities were faced with an enormous blaze that rapidly escalated to third alarm-level, Bagley told the Globe. Crews from nearly 12 towns in the area helped Foxborough rescue teams to battle the flames.

Heavy plumes of grey and black smoke roared behind firefighters on three ladders wielding hoses.

"The fire appeared to be spreading not only up the wall but through the ceilings and through a good part of the structure," Bagley continued. "It's an old building with an old wooden frame."

The venue, which first opened as Lakeview Pavilion in 1906, was not outfitted with sprinklers.

Firefighters managed to knock out the flames by about 10:30 p.m., keeping watch for potential hot spots.

Bob Bailey, a neighbor who has attended many events at the Lakeview Pavilion, lamented the loss of the location.

"There are tons of weddings here," Bailey told the Globe. "It's known as a really nice place - 'white glove' - it's got a good staff, great food."

The building's remains will be fully demolished on Sunday. Bagley told the Globe.

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