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
Milo, a 6-year-old Shetland Shepherd, reunited with firefighters days after crews pulled him unconscious from a Pasadena house fire
Families of the 67 people killed in the 2025 collision near Reagan National Airport are urging action on NTSB recommendations, including expanded collision-warning technology
Templeton firefighters unveiled new badges featuring the historic Feed & Grain building, preserving a community landmark destroyed by fire
The Coast Guard commissioned a Fast Response Cutter honoring Jeffrey Palazzo, a Coast Guard reservist and FDNY Rescue 5 firefighter killed at the World Trade Center