Unattended candle causes Fergus house fire

FERGUS – Dark, heavy smoke was billowing out from a second-floor bedroom window when volunteer firefighters arrived at a Courtney Street house fire around 3pm on March 18.

Centre Wellington deputy fire chief Jonathan Karn said firefighters found burning clothing, bedding and a mattress ignited by an unattended candle in a bedroom of a two-storey townhouse.

Twenty-three firefighters and five trucks from the Fergus and Elora stations were on scene Wednesday, with crews clearing after about two hours.

"A lot of heat, a lot of smoke, not as much fire," Karn told the Advertiser by phone on Thursday. "There was zero visibility on the second floor."

Smoke alarms were activated and tenants at the home quickly evacuated, along with neighbours in adjacent townhomes, Karn said, adding no injuries were reported.

"[The] fire was contained to a second-floor bedroom, but certainly a lot of smoke damage throughout the entire home and a bit of water damage," Karn said.

Damage could exceed $100,000, the deputy chief suggested. The department has ruled the fire was accidental and non-suspicious.

Firefighters checked next-door units for smoke, Karn explained, and the department is confident fire did not extend into the walls.

"The units on either side were cleared and those residents were allowed back in," he said.

Residents from the affected home have been displaced and Victim Services was contacted, he added.

Karn said people should never leave burning candles or cooking unattended.