September 5, 2001

PRESS RELEASE

To: Newsroom

For Immediate Release

Contact: Brian A. Crawford, Public Information Officer

Phone: 673-6652, cell: 455-2609, page: 675-2137

Candle Causes House Fire in Sunset Acres

A candle left burning in the bathroom caused moderate damage to a Sunset Acres home this morning at 7:25 a.m. Fire crews responded to 3233 Wagner after smoke coming from the home was reported by a neighbor. According to Captain Kevin Chatelain, when firefighters arrived, they were forced to break through burglar bars to open a back door and enter the residence. Once inside, firefighters found thick smoke and fire engulfing the bathroom and hallway of the single story-wood framed home. After almost 20 minutes of firefighting, the blaze was listed as under control at 7:43 a.m.

Fire communications officers at the Caddo Parish 911 Center initially told crews that someone was thought to be in the home but after a thorough search, no one was found. Resident Betty Clark, 35, said that she left the home this morning around 7:10 a.m. to take her wheelchair bound father, 59-year-old Richard Mack to LSUHSC for an appointment. When questioned Clark told fire officials that she had a candle burning in the bathroom and forgot to extinguish it before they left.

Fire Investigator Fred Sanders said that the candle had ignited some decorations on the wall above it and then quickly consumed the bathroom and hallway. The official report will list the fire as accidental. ###