An apartment fire that left one woman dead and displaced around 50 residents in November was caused by someone who improperly disposed of their smoking materials, according to the Colorado Springs Fire Department.

The fire at The Montecito Apartments in southeast Colorado Springs on Nov. 16 was ignited around 1:30 a.m. in a second-story unit. When Fire Department personnel arrived on the scene, one man had been pulled out of his apartment by neighbors, and one woman was trapped inside. The woman later succumbed to her injuries at a local hospital.

The fire department announced Tuesday that the fire was caused by improper disposal of smoking materials, such as cigarette butts, and provided safety tips for fire prevention:

• Never smoke where medical oxygen is used. Medical oxygen can cause materials to ignite and make fires burn hotter and faster than normal.
• Always properly dispose of cigarettes.
• Never smoke inside or near combustibles.

The fire department also recommends that smoke detectors are installed inside and outside of every bedroom, and on every floor in a residence.

The bulk of the fire has been knocked down. All of Pikes Peak between Byron and Murray will remained closed.

PIO is on scene pic.twitter.com/UYcPHE3Fi6

— Colorado Springs Fire Department (@CSFDPIO) November 16, 2025