Dropped Cigarette Sparks Large Fire Department, Police Response in Harvard Square

A small fire at an apartment on JFK Street on Monday night brought a large police and fire presence to the area.

At approximately 6 p.m., three firetrucks responded to a fire reported at an apartment above The Harvard Shop and a police car blocked a lane of traffic on JFK Street. No individuals were harmed in the incident, and the apartments and shops had no visual damage after officials cleared the scene.

Maddie R. Labbe — a host at Grafton Street Pub & Grill who witnessed the incident from across the street — said the fire was caused by a resident smoking on a balcony. According to Labbe, the resident dropped a cigarette into a dead houseplant, which caught on fire.

The Crimson was unable to contact the resident who allegedly started the fire.

The smoke from the fire set off the alarm at Ten One Tea House, a boba shop located next to The Harvard Shop. Individuals at the businesses below the apartment were evacuated during the incident.

“After probably a few minutes, the plant caught on fire, and the smoke started to go into Ten House, which is that little tea house down below, so they had to evacuate,” Labbe said.

The Cambridge Police Department did not provide any additional information about the fire, and a representative from the Cambridge Fire Department declined to comment on the incident.

—Staff writer Sally E. Edwards can be reached at sally.edwards@thecrimson.com. Follow her on X @sallyedwards04 or on Threads @sally_edwards06.

—Staff writer Angelina J. Parker can be reached at angelina.parker@thecrimson.com. Follow her on X @angelinajparker.