Chattanooga fire investigators say they believe improperly discarded cigarette butts caused a fire that destroyed two units at Mountain Creek Apartments in Chattanooga.

Lt. Henry McElvain said that based on eyewitness accounts, the fire started on the deck of Apartment 174 on the first floor. After talking with the residents in that apartment and examining the physical evidence, McElvain said the cause of the fire will be ruled accidental.

The firefighters were able to contain the blaze to two apartment units. The remaining 18 units in that building were saved.

McElvain said the loss was estimated at $200,000 for the building, $12,000 for the contents in the two apartment units, and $1,500 to a truck that was parked close to the two apartments damaged by the fire.

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