Construction Work Likely Cause of Apartment Fire

The Cambridge Fire Department (CFD) fought a two-alarm blaze in an apartment building near Harvard Law School yesterday afternoon.

The fire started in a vacant third story apartment at 1558 Mass. Ave. shortly before 1:00 p.m.

"The fire was contained to a third floor apartment and in the hallway," said CFD chief Gerald Riordan.

It took a half an hour for firefighters to suppress the fire and allow fire investigators into the building.

Riordan said that the fire was probably caused by construction on the vacant apartment.

"We are looking at a floor refinishing that was in progress," said Riordan. "That is the focus of our investigation at this time, but the investigation is still in progress."

Later in the afternoon, a fire and water damage restoration crew came in to repair some of the damage.

"One of the apartments was destroyed and there was a lot of damage from the fire and the water," said Narciso Blanco, an employee of the restoration company.

"Three units near the fire and two units on the floor below have been damaged," Blanco continued. "I don't think people will be staying there tonight."