BANGOR – Careless smoking caused a fire that claimed the life of a 54-year-old Bangor man Wednesday night, according to the Bangor Fire Department.

Charles Marston died of smoke inhalation after fire gutted his Pine Street apartment Wednesday afternoon. Though it took only seven minutes for the department to extinguish the fire, Marston suffered burns to his face and had inhaled smoke.

He died later at Eastern Maine Medical Center. Fire marshals were on the scene much of the night determining the cause, and by Thursday afternoon had turned the building back over to its owner, Paul Baron of Bangor.

Assistant Fire Chief Rick Cheverie said most of the fire damage was contained to Marston’s second-floor apartment, but said there was water damage to the apartment below.

It appeared the fire started in the living room of the apartment, which was gutted in the blaze, he said.

“I think Red Cross is helping out the tenants,” Cheverie said.

“Now that the investigators are through, the landlord can get in there. It needs some fixing and cleaning, but the building is salvageable.”

Bangor firefighters received the call just before 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Four engine companies, a ladder truck and an ambulance responded.