WORCESTER, Mass. (AP) – Three separate fires within a span of 10 hours left more than two dozen Worcester residents homeless, but caused no serious injuries.

The first blaze erupted early Sunday morning in a triple-decker on Vinson Street, forcing 13 residents into the bitter cold. District Fire Chief Frank DiLiddo said the fire apparently started on the first floor, but the cause wasn’t known.

A few hours later, firefighters responded to a house fire on Great Post Road that was apparently started by a cigarette left smoldering on a couch. Three people were displaced by that blaze.

Another blaze struck a triple-decker on Merrifield Street shortly after 11 a.m., sending flames shooting out of the third floor. Nine people living in the building escaped safely.

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Information from: Telegram & Gazette, http://www.telegram.com

AP-ES-12-03-07 0710EST