Harrison Thorp 7 a.m.
Wednesday, December 7, 2016 6:55 am

The fire took out a porch and damage other parts of the first and second floor. (Lebanon Voice photo)

ROCHESTER - A cigarette improperly discarded outside is being blamed for last month's Charles Street house fire that destroyed a porch and caused at least $20,000 worth of damage.

Four Rochester residents were displaced in the fire at 129 Charles St., which was called in around 3:15 a.m. on Nov. 23.

The Red Cross reported that two adults and two children lived at the home and got out safely. Two pets also escaped unharmed.

Assistant Rochester Fire Chief Mark Dupuis said on Tuesday that once the discarded butt got into dry vegetation around the eight-foot by six-foot porch it didn't take long for the fire to flare.

While structural damage may have been minimal, Dupuis said firefighters had to go into the first floor ceiling and second floor wall to ensure the fire didn't spread to other parts of the house, which he said actually saved the attic.