MOSES LAKE — An unattended candle sparked a townhouse fire,

displacing a woman and three children.

The fire started around midnight on Monday when Moses Lake

firefighters responded to a 9-1-1 call reporting smoke coming from

the second story of a townhouse located on Lee Street in Moses

Lake, said Moses Lake Assistant Fire Chief Brett Bastian.

Two fire trucks, a salvage truck, a medic unit and a command unit

responded to the scene.

A

total of nine firefighters fought the blaze for about two

hours.

The fire was contained in the master bedroom, where the candle was

located, he said.

The homeowner was at a friends’ house when she forgot about the

candle, said Bastian.

When she returned home, the resident discovered the fire.

The 20-year-old victim had three children and was provided

temporary shelter by the American Red Cross, said Nadie Southwick,

red cross volunteer.

Most of the contents on the second floor were destroyed, but the

contents in the first story were salvageable, said Bastian.

The fire department wants to remind people of the dangers of

leaving a lit candle unattended.

“We want to always remind people to never leave candles unattended.

If you’re not in the room, make sure you blow the candle out and

you are placing it on a non-combustible surface,” he said.