2 Men Critically Injured as Fire Destroys House

A fire apparently caused by the misuse of candles destroyed a home Monday and critically injured two men, a city Fire Department spokesman said.

The blaze broke out about midnight in the 600 block of West 41st Street, where it took firefighters 23 minutes to extinguish the flames, said Fire Department spokesman Jim Wells.

Firefighters had difficulty getting into the home because they had to cut through a security door, Wells said. Once inside, they had to sift through stacks of magazines and newspapers that fueled the fire.

A 73-year-old man was listed in critical but stable condition at California Hospital Medical Center after treatment for smoke inhalation and possible burns, Wells said. A man in his late 40s or early 50s was in critical condition with severe respiratory problems and second- and third-degree burns, Wells said.

The fire caused an estimated $110,000 in damage.