Candle starts fire that drives three New Philadelphia families from apartments

NEW PHILADELPHIA — A candle left burning on a dresser caused a fire that displaced three families on Monday morning, according to fire Capt. Jim Sholtz.

Firefighters were called twice to the scene of the fire in an apartment at 439 W. High Ave.

When firefighters responded to the first call, placed at 4:01 a.m., they found fire on a dresser in an upstairs bedroom at the back of the two-story unit, Sholtz said. They were able to extinguish the fire with about 10 gallons of water from a hose. 

The fire spread to the wall by the dresser. Firefighters examined the area to determine whether the fire had entered other areas before leaving the scene at 5:07 a.m., according to Sholtz.

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They were called again to the same apartment at 5:42 p.m. because the fire had rekindled. Firefighters found heavy smoke and high heat in the back bedroom. After a few minutes, flames were coming from the door of the back bedroom, Sholtz said.

The fire had gotten into the attic above the fire scene and two neighboring apartments, Sholtz said. Firefighters evacuated the residents and pulled down the ceilings to stop the fire from spreading.

The fire was under control in about 15 minutes, Sholtz said. Fire crews conducted a more extensive search for additional fire, pulling down ceilings and removing walls in the burned apartment and neighboring units, Sholtz said.

He said the second fire started in the attic above the location of the dresser.

Blown-in insulation may have been a factor in the re-ignition of the fire, Sholtz said.

"Blow-in insulation is just a real mess to deal with. (Fire) gets in there, there's no telling where it's at," Sholtz said.

An investigator from the State Fire Marshal's office said the fire could have traveled eight to 12 feet in any direction through the material, according to Sholtz.

The fire is not considered suspicious, he said. 

The first fire started when the candle burned down through the dresser, Sholtz said.

Smoke detectors sounded at the first fire. Damaged in the first fire, the devices did not alert residents to the second one, Sholtz said.

The occupants of the apartment where the fire started were able to leave the burning structure themselves, Sholtz said. They are a family of two adults and three children aged 1 to 5.  The American Red Cross is assisting the family and two others from adjacent apartments with lodging.

Also responding to the incident were firefighters from Dover, Uhrichsville, York Township, Strasburg and Bolivar. Smith Ambulance went to the scene.