Man's smoking suspected as fatal fire cause

Police are investigating whether the Springfield man who died in a fire at his Pearl Street apartment Saturday evening accidentally caused the fire by smoking on his couch, said Springfield Police Chief Douglas Johnston.

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Man's smoking suspected as fatal fire cause


Wreckage is all that remains of a house at 17 Pearl St. in Springfield, where a Saturday fire claimed the life of Leslie Streeter of Springfield.

Susan Smallheer / Rutland Herald


staff report - Published: January 19, 2010

SPRINGFIELD — Police are investigating whether the Springfield man who died in a fire at his Pearl Street apartment Saturday evening accidentally caused the fire by smoking on his couch, said Springfield Police Chief Douglas Johnston.

Johnston said he hadn't heard whether an autopsy on the man's body had been conducted Monday, which was a state and federal holiday.

Leslie Streeter is believed to have perished in the fire; his body was found a short distance from the front door. Police, however, have held off on a formal identification, pending the autopsy.

The police chief said police were waiting for the autopsy results of another unexpected death in Springfield on Saturday night.

He said he expected it would be several weeks before toxicology reports are back on Streeter. He said such toxicology tests are standard in such cases.

He said the state police, who conducted the investigation into the cause of the fire, had determined the cause was not suspicious, although the exact cause was still under investigation.

The apartment house, located at 17 Pearl St., was so heavily damaged it has been demolished.
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