Christmas tree blamed for Marina apartment fire

We have new information regarding an apartment fire in Marina over the weekend. When firefighters arrived they found smoke and flames coming from an upstairs apartment. News Channel 5 went to the marina beach apartments complex and spoke with the man who lived in the apartment where the fire started. Michael Spataro admits the fire probably could have been prevented.

Spataro says his family got their Christmas tree right after Thanksgiving but it hadn’t been watered since-

“It was just on the wood stand that came from Savemart so we didn’t water it and that was our mistake,” said Spataro.

Spataro, his girlfriend and two kids were about to go to sleep when they heard something-

Spataro said, “There was a crackle noise and I looked over and the tree it just sparked up really fast, within 20 seconds the whole living room was engulfed.”

Marina fire chief Harald Kelley said it’s a painful reminder of just how fast a dry Christmas tree can burn.

“30 seconds, 30 seconds, once its exposed to fire if its dry its thirty seconds,” said Chief Kelley.

The smell of smoke still lingered in the air at Marina beach apartments and contractors were upstairs Tuesday accessing the damage trying to see when residents can come back to their apartments.

Spataro is still picking up the pieces and hoping he can salvage his family’s Christmas.