A historic Tempe building caught fire Saturday morning and fire officials say a smoldering cigarette may be to blame.
An Apache Boulevard home and palm reading business, belonging to the same Tempe resident that owns Readings by Mrs. Rita less than three miles away on University Drive, was almost a complete loss after the embers from a lit cigarette caused a bedroom comforter to go up in flames, said Tempe Fire Inspector Phil Rohe.
Just after 10:30 a.m., Rohe said the fire department received a 911 call from a man staying in the home, located at 2026 E. Apache Boulevard, after he woke up to the smell of smoke. The fire destroyed a back bedroom and Rohe said the cost of repair could total $50,000.
The man inside the home was not injured and another renter staying at the property was working as the fire occurred, Rohe said.
mmmmm…how come “Rita” didn’t know this would happen?