Trending Topics

Unattended candles lead to fatal N.C. apartment fire

Authorities said the Charlotte apartment had smoke detectors but the batteries had been removed

By WSOC
The Charlotte Observer

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Two people were killed in a fire early Wednesday at an apartment complex in east Charlotte, according to the Charlotte Fire Department.

Burning candles were left unattended, which caused a fire in an apartment on Spanish Quarter Circle, fire department officials said.

Firefighters were called to the blaze around 3:30 a.m. Wednesday. The fire was quickly extinguished, but firefighters found the two victims inside the home. They were originally taken to a nearby hospital before they died from their injuries.

Three cats were also killed in the fire, according to CFD.

The apartment unit had a smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector, but neither worked due to batteries being removed, authorities said.

According to the fire department, no other apartments were damaged in the fire.

The victims haven’t been identified yet.

CFD Reginald Johnson wrote on Twitter that the department expresses “our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the victims.”

©2024 The Charlotte Observer.
Visit charlotteobserver.com.
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Trending
The UL Research Institutes’ Fire Safety Research Institute analysis cites interconnected system failures for the tragic outcomes of the 2025 firestorm
With 87% of its fire stations over 40 years old, Cleveland’s plan would repair 12, renovate or expand another 12, and replace 10 others while improving firefighter safety features and bringing EMS units back into fire stations
Whether you need data-driven outreach or just better graphics, AI offers practical ways to strengthen your prevention messages
The Londonderry lieutenant didn’t realize he was injured at first and went back inside the home