Burning candle probable cause of blaze near Front Street in Port Angeles

Published 1:30 am Thursday, October 24, 2019

PORT ANGELES — A burning candle left unattended likely was the cause of a fire that extensively damaged a recreational vehicle.

The fire, which broke out shortly before 7 p.m. Tuesday near the alley behind Little Caesars Pizza, 1315 E. Front St., was quickly extinguished by Port Angeles Fire Department firefighters.

No one was injured.

Capt. Terry Reid of the Port Angeles Fire Department said the RV’s owner, who was living in the vehicle at the time, had left for awhile and returned to find smoke pouring from his home.

When he opened the door, the vehicle erupted into flames.

A nearby van, which was parked next to the RV and owned by the same person, was damaged by heat and flames, Reid said. No other structures were burned.

The owner told Reid he left a lit candle in the RV at about 5 p.m.

The main area of damage was near the place where the owner said he left the candle, according to Reid’s report.