Candle Sparks Bethesda House Fire

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BETHESDA, MD — A candle burning in a bedroom is the cause of a Bethesda house fire that caused a total of $40,000 damage to a house, authorities said.

The fire was reported at 4:23 p.m. Thursday in the 6100 block of Bradley Boulevard.

Montgomery County firefighters arrived to see smoke showing from the second floor.

Two residents were home at the time of the fire and got out of the house without injury. Firefighters quickly extinguished a small fire in a second floor bedroom.

Fire investigators confirmed that a candle was burning on the dresser in the bedroom. The blaze began at the candle and spread to nearby combustible materials.

Authorities deemed the fire as accidental.

Damage is estimated at $25,000 to the house and $15,000 to the contents. The home had smoke alarms but they did not operate.

Two adults and two children have been displaced as a result of the fire.

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services reminds residents to check your smoke alarms regularly and follow these safety tips while using candles in the home:

• Extinguish all candles when leaving the room or going to sleep.
• Keep candles away from items that can catch fire (e.g., clothing, books, paper, curtains, Christmas trees, flammable decorations, etc.).
• Use candle holders that are sturdy, won't tip over easily, are made from a material that can't burn and are large enough to collect dripping wax.
• Don't place lit candles in windows. Blinds and curtains can easily ignite.
• Place candle holders on a sturdy, uncluttered surface and do not use candles in places where they could be knocked over by children or pets.
• Keep candles and all open flames away from flammable liquids.
• Keep candle wicks trimmed to one-quarter inch and extinguish candles when they get to within two inches of the holder or decorative material. Votive and containers should be extinguished before the last half-inch of wax starts to melt.
• Avoid candles with decorative items embedded in them.

»Photos of Bethesda house fire, courtesy of Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services