Firefighters Extinguish Apt Blaze, Candle likely to Blame

Oklahoma City firefighters extinguished an apartment fire around 2 pm Sunday. Neighbor Suzy Hays was the one who called 911, "I noticed smoke coming out of her chimney, then I noticed it was coming out of her garage door," Hays said she tried warning her neighbor by banging on the door, "The smoke was so black I said I don't think I can go inside." Hays said. Firefighters put the blaze out within the hour and said the homeowner was not at home at the time. "When we arrived there was pretty heavy smoke coming from the garage area," Battalion Chief Greg Lindsay with the OKC fire department said. Chief Lindsay said the fire started likely after a candle was left burning unattended, "Every indication points to the fire starting where she said there was a candle burning." Lindsay warned other homeowners that as candles may be common this time of year, they can also be dangerous, "During the holidays, kind of a festive atmosphere candles can be nice, but they are just not very safe."
The home suffered water and smoke damage to two rooms but no structural damage.  Neighbors are relieved the fire did not spread to the adjoining buildings, "It's just really scary when something like this happens in a close environment," Neighbor Hays said.
 Mark Taylor
Fox 25 News
MeTaylor@okcfox.com
Firefighters Extinguish Apt Blaze, Candle likely to Blame

Posted: Sunday, December 23 2012, 09:38 PM CST