ROCKLAND — Rockland Firefighters were called to 38 Mechanic St., this morning, Jan.  24, at 3:51 for a porch fire that Interim Fire Chief Adam Miceli said could have been much worse.

The fire on the covered porch was caused by a discarded cigarette “hastily thrown out” the window, according to a news release from the fire department. The cigarette went behind a shelving unit, igniting paper, leaves, etc., then extended to the vinyl siding.

Smoke entering the open window activated a detector in the kitchen that alerted the occupants to the fire. The residents were able to extinguish the fire after they called the fire department.

According to Miceli, this morning’s fire had similarities to the Noyes Street fire in Portland, where five people died. The deadly fire in Portland also ignited on a covered porch, there was open means for fire to enter the rest of the building and similar interior conditions might have hampereded escape.

Miceli said, “On the positive side, a working smoke detector alerted the occupants to the fire before it entered the home. Upon discovery, the fire was starting to grow with plenty of fuel readily available to do significant damage.”

Three units responded to the scene with a total of 13 personnel.