Unattended candles cause apartment fire

June 14, 2006

Candles left burning in a bedroom in a Petaluma apartment Friday night resulted in no injuries, but caused $135,000 in damages and forced two families to relocate, Petaluma Fire Department sources said.

Firefighters arrived at the one-story Queen Anne Victorian at 301 E St. at 10:07 p.m., and found that heavy flames and smoke were coming from the side and rear windows of the two apartments in the building.

A bystander unsuccessfully attempted to extinguish the fire using a garden hose, but when fire crews extended multiple hose lines, they brought it under control.

The fire spread to the attic, and fire crews cut a vent hole to allow heat and smoke to escape while the fire was extinguished from underneath. The fire caused an estimated $100,000 in structural losses and $35,000 in contents losses, the sources said.

Several people, including four children, evacuated the building and are being housed by the Red Cross.

Fire crews learned that the fire was caused by candles that either fell or were too close to bedding or curtains. When the fire began, the occupants were at home, but in another area of the house, the sources said.