Banks Street fire cause undetermined

A pre-dawn, Nov. 25 fire has resulted in the tragic death of a 77-year-old resident, Gladys Evans, who was at home at the time of the blaze, which gutted the three-unit Harvard Real Estate Services-managed building at 47-49 Banks St., Cambridge. The residents of the other two units, an assistant professor and a graduate student, were away at the time of the fire. Upon their return, they were temporarily housed in a local hotel and have since been relocated.Harvard Real Estate Services is cooperating with the Cambridge Fire Department’s fire investigation unit. Lt. Brian Higgins, who is heading the investigation, said that the fire’s official cause has not been determined at this time, but that the blaze does not appear to be related to recent gas work in the neighborhood or the University’s ongoing construction site one block north of the property.As a safety precaution, the 47-49 Banks St. house was razed after the fire.