WEST FARGO - A cigar is believed to have started a chair on fire, damaging a West Fargo apartment Wednesday and injuring the tenant, Fire Chief Roy Schatschneider said.
Leslie Moore, 61, had been sitting in the chair in the living room smoking a cigar before the fire at 228 9½ Ave. W., Schatschneider said.
The fire was apparently caused by the cigar butt or ashes being dropped onto the chair, smoldering and starting it on fire, Schatschneider said.
Moore told authorities he was in the bedroom when a smoke alarm alerted him to the fire, Schatschneider said. Moore had to walk by the burning chair to get out of the apartment, and he sustained minor injuries, he said.
The fire, which was initially reported as a basement fire but was actually on the ground floor, was reported at 12:43 a.m. Wednesday.
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The apartment sustained heavy smoke damage and will likely have to be stripped, Schatschneider said.
