Candle likely the cause of early morning fire at Carson City gift shop
Submitted by Jeff Munson on Fri, 05/10/2013 - 3:11am
A candle is believed to have touched off a small fire inside an East John Street business early Friday morning, Carson City Fire Department officials said. No injuries were reported.
Firefighters were called to Touched by Angels at 108 East John Street at around 3 a.m. after smoke was reported coming from the upper level of the business.
Firefighters made entry by force through the lower level of the building, a residence, to wake the occupants who were inside sleeping and unaware of the fire upstairs, said Battalion Chief John Arneson. A smoke detector was activated but not loud enough for the occupants below to hear, he said.
Smoke was coming from the top level when firefighters arrived. A candle that burned to its end touched off a table cloth that started the fire, Battalion Chief Arneson said. The fire did not make it to the ceiling, he added.
"The message is: When you burn candles be sure to put them out when you leave," he said.
Damage was contained to the upper level where the candle burned, the ceiling area where firefighters checked to see if the fire had penetrated into the attic and the front door of the residence, he said.
