Cigarette caused Shelton High fire

A discarded cigarette caused Tuesday's three-alarm fire at Shelton High School, authorities told News Channel 8.

Count on 8 Investigator Alan Cohn spoke with Shelton Police Capt. Michael Madden, who says the fire marshal has ruled the fire accidental.

"The nature of the fire appears to be accidental. The fire appears to have started in a garbage can from the disposal of a cigarette in that second floor closet," said Capt. Madden.

The closet was an area not protected by sprinklers. Asst. Chief Michael Ullrich told News Channel 8 that the lack of sprinklers may have caused the fire to spread.

"It perhaps could have controlled the fire and knock it down in a more timely fashion," Ullrich said.

The fire quickly spread causing millions of dollars worth of damage. The heat and smoke so intense, investigators tell us, had it had been an normal school day with 1,800 kids in the building, it would have been a disaster.

Last month, a Count on 8 investigation uncovered that despite spending $25-million for a new addition to the school, a new roof, and a new heating and cooling system, sprinklers were not installed in the original building. And the lack of sprinklers in classrooms with no windows or emergency doors is an apparent violation of the State Fire Safety Code.

"There is not much that can burn other than paper and people and some electrical components. Fortunately, we have dogged any bullet that may have come in that regard," Mayor Mark Lauretti said last month.

Because kids were on vacation when the fire broke out, it appears the city dodged another bullet. Mayor Lauretti would not talk to News Channel 8 when we approached him for comment.

Cleanup started this afternoon but it's unclear right now whether the school will be ready when classes are scheduled to resume on Monday.