Candle lit other items on fire, sparking apartment blaze

March 22--An apartment fire just north of the Northern State University campus early Friday morning has been linked to a candle that was lit and sitting on a desk inside one of the apartments.

The fire started shortly after midnight at 215 12th Ave. S.E. The three-story building with seven apartments has significant fire damage on all three floors. Nobody was injured.

Fire Marshal Mike Thompson said the square candle burned down to inch or less, then ignited nearby items. It was in the northwest bedroom of the first-floor apartment.

"Once it burned down, it went up into the corner, crossed the ceiling and flashed into the ceiling," Thompson said.

From there it went east across the apartment ceiling and moved vertically, he said.

Nine people were living in five of the apartments, Thompson said, and residents in three of the apartments were home at the time of the fire. They all escaped.

A dog has yet to be accounted for, he said.

Three of the tenants are students at Northern State University. Donations for the displaced students are being collected at the Office of International Programs on campus, said Heidi Hepola, program assistant. The office is in room 206 of Lincoln Hall. A GoFundMe account has also been set up. Search for "International Students Fire Recover."

A second GoFundMe account has been established for another tenant. Search for "Tim Higgins lost it all in a fire."

A YouCaring account has been set up for another tenant and her son. Search for "the Lang family fire relief fund."

The apartment fire is one of three recent fires that are being investigated. The other two were in February.

--On Feb. 4, there was a fire at the State Street Laundromat, 120 N. State St. Thompson said he's been able to determine that the fire originated in one of the dryers, but whether it was the result of something inside the dryer or the dryer itself is undetermined.

--On Feb. 7, there was a house fire and explosion at 507 N. Second St. Thompson said the cause remains under investigation. Part of that work includes excavation of the natural gas line on the property.

NorthWestern Energy Spokesman Tom Glanzer said the line was excavated Feb. 23, and the state fire marshal's report should be completed soon.

Planning and Zoning Director Brett Bill said he is working with property owners at 507 N. Second St. and 604 S. First St., a house that was damaged in a Sept. 6 fire.

Bill said both property owners are working with insurance companies, but he's hoping the damaged structures can be cleared before summer.

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