FORKS — An early-morning West End fire began when a chandelier candle dropped on a recliner, activating a smoke alarm that likely saved the homeowner’s life, Bill Paul, Forks-area Clallam County Fire District 1 Chief, said last week.
Catherine Ann Johnson, 66, was sleeping in a second-floor bedroom when the alarm went off at about 3 a.m. Feb. 4, alerting her a fire had started on the chair in the second-floor living room, Paul said.
The two-bedroom house in the 100 block of Elk Loop Drive about 2 miles east of Forks was severely damaged, and Johnson was still living at a neighbor’s house last week, Paul said Thursday.
He said a smoke alarm alerted her to the blaze after she had fallen asleep in the second-floor bedroom shortly after midnight Wednesday. Johnson was the lone occupant.
The tiny candle, one of four in the chandelier, had cracked through its cup-like glass holder, dropping to the recliner below and igniting the fabric, Paul said.
“She said she checked the house and blew them out and went to bed,” Paul said.
“But obviously, she didn’t.
“We’ve had a few of these because of candles. Everyone loves their candles, my wife loves her candles, but they can be really scary.”
Paul cautioned residents to never leave candles unattended and to make sure, when retiring for the evening, that candles are fully extinguished.
As of Thursday, the two-bedroom, 1,255-square-foot home was still being cleaned up, Paul said, adding the roof remained intact but the second floor was uninhabitable.
It could take months before the house can be lived in again, he said.
“The entire upstairs needs to be totally redone, all the Sheetrock, carpeting, appliances.”
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at pgottlieb@ peninsuladailynews.com.
