A Monday afternoon basement fire that damaged a home in the Hough neighborhood and displaced a family appeared to have been caused by an errant candle.
Vancouver Fire Marshal Heidi Scarpelli said the fire’s cause is officially undetermined, but it likely was sparked by a smoking family member who was using a candle. It seemed likely the candle came in contact with combustible material, leading to the fire.
Firefighters were called to the house, at 511 W. 17th St., around 5 p.m., and were able to confine the fire to the basement.
Scarpelli said clothing hanging on a door rack and clothes on a freezer unit next to the door caught fire.
