For Immediate Release

Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2017

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Georgetown Fire Department Extinguishes Fire Outside Johnnie’s Place

GEORGETOWN — Chief Fred Mitchell reports that the Georgetown Fire Department extinguished a fire outside a building in town earlier this week.

On Monday, Aug. 7, at 12:32 p.m., Georgetown firefighters were dispatched to Johnnie’s Place, 69 East Main St., after fire and smoke were reported outside the building.

Upon arrival, firefighters found a working fire on the perimeter of the building and smoke in the building’s basement. The fire did not extend into the building and was quickly extinguished.

There were no injuries or damage to the interior of the building. The facade of the building sustained minor damage.

Crews from the Newbury, Groveland, and Rowley Fire Departments arrived on scene for mutual aid, while the Boxford and West Newbury Fire Department provided station coverage.

The cause is under investigation, however, a preliminary investigation indicates that the fire could have started from an improperly discarded cigarette.

Johnnie’s Place reopened after the Georgetown Building Inspector and the Georgetown Board of Health inspected the interior and exterior and deemed it safe.

The Georgetown Fire Department has responded to multiple fires believed to have been caused by the improper disposal of cigarettes, including at the Black Swan Country Club last year. To prevent fires caused by cigarettes, the Georgetown Fire Department reminds residents of several important safety tips:

• Never toss hot cigarettes butts or ashes into bushes, mulch, or grassy areas that can easily catch fire.
• Throwing cigarettes on the ground is considered littering.

• Fully extinguish cigarettes in an ash tray or a non-combustible container.
• Soak cigarette butts in water before throwing them away.
• If smoking inside, don’t place ash trays on combustible surfaces.

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