News brief: Rochester house fire blamed on candle

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

A Rochester couple using candles for light because they had no electricity now have no home after an overnight fire.

Firefighters called just after 1:30 a.m. to the 9200 block of 192nd Lane Southwest found heavy smoke coming from the manufactured home, according to West Thurston Regional Fire Authority. The blaze was contained to the bathroom and hallway but the rest of the house was smoke damaged, Chief Robert Scott said.

The male resident was treated for smoke inhalation; the fire burned through the floor and he was using a garden hose from outside to try to extinguish it, Scott said.

Scott said he didn’t know why they had no power, but he was told they’d left a candle burning in the bathroom, which is where the fire was centered. It was the smoke that woke them, he said.

“I didn’t hear of any working smoke detector so it’s lucky they woke up when they did,” he said. “Or it could have been a lot more tragic.”

The Red Cross was contacted to assist them with temporary housing.

Scott said he wast sure if the home was repairable.

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