Unattended Candle Fire Causes Minor Explosion in Apartment

Nobody was hurt in the Saturday afternoon fire.

Photo courtesy: Joe Parrott/Salem Fire

(SALEM) - Fire investigators say a candle left lit and unattended caused a fire and explosion in an apartment located at 3341 Ratcliff Dr. SE in Salem.

Deputy Fire Chief Joe Parrott says the occupants of the apartment left at about 8:00 am. At 3:35 pm Salem firefighters were called to a report of an explosion in the apartment.

The investigation revealed that the lit and unattended candle was under a medicine cabinet in the bathroom. Heat from the candle ignited the cabinet.

"Heat from the fire caused the rupture of several aerosal cans that combined to cause enough of an explosion to knock out a window, loosen a wall, and knock the door to the bathroom off its hinges."

Parrott says damage is estimated at $30,000. No one was injured in the fire.

The Salem Fire Department reminds people that candles are one of the leading causes of fires. Candles should never be left unattended while lit.