1 dead, 11 hurt in cruise ship fire

[Jason]

MIAMI (AP) -- Fire broke out on a cruise ship in the Caribbean early Thursday, killing one person and injuring 11 others before the crew extinguished the flames, officials said.

The Star Princess was en route from Grand Cayman to Jamaica when the blaze started in a cabin and spread to others, according to a statement from Princess Cruises, which is owned by Miami-based Carnival Corp.

Carnival Chief Financial Officer Gerald Cahill confirmed the fatality and injuries during a conference call. The fire's cause is currently unknown, Santa Clarita, Calif.-based Princess said in a statement.

The ship is carrying 2,690 passengers and 1,123 crew members and the company was trying to account for all of them.

Authorities were immediately contacted regarding the fire, the company said.

In Jamaica, authorities reported the ship was coming into a port in the Caribbean island and that there was one reported fatality.

"One person has been reported dead and others injured as a result of smoke inhalation," Jamaica's Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management said.

Star Princess sailed from Fort Lauderdale on March 19.

[Jason]

CNN News Flash: It is now suspected that a cigarette may be the cause of the fire. More details soon...

[TheSkipper]

They are now saying the fire began on a balcony and a cigarette is suspected.

That could mean someone dozed off or the butt was flipped overboard from a balcony above.

I guess we will all pay more attention to the on board safety drills from now on.