Police: Smoldering candle caused apartment fire

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By Steven Martens | Monday, June 19, 2006 11:41 PM CDT | () comments

Steven Martens/QUAD-CITY TIMES Investigators said Monday that a fire that destroyed the Riverside Apartments in Fulton, Ill., was caused by a candle that had been used during a power outage the night before Friday’s fire. Fifteen people were left homeless.

FULTON, Ill. — Charlie Wheeler celebrated his 72nd birthday Monday at Donnie O’s, a tavern just down the street from his old apartment building, feeling fortunate he had lived to celebrate another year.

Wheeler was one of 15 people in nine apartments left homeless by a fire that broke out about 11 a.m. Friday at Riverside Apartments, 208 10th Ave.

Fulton Police Sgt. Jim Miller said Monday the fire was caused by a candle that had been lit during a power outage Thursday night. The candle had caused a small fire inside one of the apartments that a resident thought he had put out, but apparently the fire reignited, Miller said.

Firefighters from several local communities battled the blaze for hours. No one was injured, but the building was destroyed.

Wheeler said he was watching television on his couch in his second-floor apartment Friday morning when a blast blew him right off the couch. Wheeler said the blast was caused when the door to the third-floor apartment where the fire had been smoldering was opened, letting in oxygen and causing a blast.

“I just took my dog and I ran,” said Wheeler, a retiree who lived alone in the apartment.

Wheeler said he helped a friend who lived on the first floor pull the window air-conditioner unit out of the window to rescue his friend’s dog.

Wheeler said the Gateway Chapter of the American Red Cross put him and the other residents up at hotels in Clinton, Iowa, but they will have to be out by Thursday. He said he is looking for a new apartment in Fulton.

Wheeler said he was able to go back into his apartment Saturday to retrieve a few items of clothing and a few other things, but most of his possessions were destroyed.

“I lost everything,” he said.

The American Red Cross was referring calls from those interested in making donations to the Immaculate Conception Church in Fulton.

Rev. Rob Miltenberger, assistant director at the Victory Center Rescue Mission in Clinton and the managing partner of Riverside Apartments, said Monday no decision had been made yet about whether to rebuild the apartments.

“We’re still stunned,” he said.

Miltenberger said some of the residents were able to recover some items from their apartments.

“They really didn’t get much, and what they did get was pretty damaged,” Miltenberger said.

Miltenberger said the building was insured, but there was no estimate yet on the amount of damage.

Steven Martens can be contacted at (563) 659-2595 or smartens@qctimes.com.