Holiday Candles May Be Cause of Fire in Home

A living room fire caused $70,000 damage to a home early Monday, but residents escaped unharmed.

Fire Department Division Chief Rudy Weyland said the fire in the 1400 block of East Pinewood Avenue may have been sparked by votive candles in a Christmas shrine.

But neighbors said that fire officials at the scene told the homeowner that faulty wiring in a living room chandelier may have been a factor.

The blaze started at 4:15 a.m. when a couple and their three young children were sleeping, neighbors said.

Carol Hanson, who lives nearby, was awakened by the sounds of the mother shouting for the children to get out.

The family, whose names were not available Monday, fled and by the time firefighters arrived minutes later, smoke was pouring from the home.

“She was pounding on the door to get them to wake up,” Hanson said.

Three engines, one firetruck and a battalion chief controlled the fire in 15 minutes, Weyland said.

He said a Christmas shrine that had been set up in the living room with religious candles may have been the cause of the fire.

“People need to check their electrical wiring on their tree and house,” he said.

“We get an increased number of calls and alarms and fires when the [Christmas] decorations go up.”