Advertisement 3-alarm fire rips through Foxborough Lakeview Pavilion Location hosts weddings, other private events Share Shares Copy Link Copy

A wedding was cut short and a well-known Foxborough landmark was destroyed in a three-alarm fire that broke out Saturday night. Fire officials say careless disposal of a cigarette sparked the blaze.Flames ripped through the Lakeview Pavilion, a private lakefront venue that routinely hosts weddings and special events. See photos from the sceneThe fire started around 7:15 p.m. just as the wedding ceremony concluded, Justice of the Peace Jerry Cibley said."I had literally just pronounced them husband and wife, and they proceeded down the center aisle with the groomsmen and bridesmaids," he said.Watch NewsCenter 5's reportFoxborough Fire Department Capt. Ed Noonan told NewsCenter 5's Kimberly Bookman that the blaze started in the back of the building where people gathered before the wedding ceremony. He said the fire was sparked by a cigarette disposed of in mulch that ignited vinyl siding on the building.Cibley declined to name the bride and groom, saying the couple was distraught by the fire."The bride and groom are devastated — this was their big day," he told the Sun Chronicle. "I’m thankful everybody got out safely. It went up so quickly and could have been a lot worse with 140 to 150 people in there."There were no reports of injuries. Lakeview Pavilion was built in 1906. About 200 upcoming events were scheduled at the venue, and the owner plans to have an office on the site Monday to help customers.In a statement released Sunday, the owners said they were grateful that no one was injured and thanked first responders."The Kourtidis family is devastated by the loss of the beautiful function facility that we have nurtured for over 25 years," the statement said. "We want all of our brides and grooms and customers to know that they are our first priority. We are dedicated to making sure that they still have the wedding or event of their dreams. We are in contact with venues in the area and will be assisting all of you as you transition to a new location."