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
Colorado State University Pueblo operates like a small city, providing food, fuel, repairs, medical support and rest for hundreds of firefighters battling the Aspen Acres Fire
Maple Grove Fire Chief Maddison Zikmund was placed on administrative leave after being charged with sexually assaulting a teenage fire cadet while serving with another department in 2017
A Lawrence firefighter pulled a trapped man through a window as crews from multiple departments battled a large fire for hours
With drought, extreme heat and firefighter fatalities, wildfire managers are strategically moving crews, aircraft and equipment to areas most at risk