A Northglenn mother and her teenage daughter were displaced by an apartment fire started by a tipped candle overnight.
The pair had been using candles in their home because their power was shut off when they couldn’t keep up with the bill, said Wendy Forbes, spokeswoman with the North Metro Fire Protection District.
The town home fire broke out at about 12:30 a.m. at 11217 Grant Drive in Northglenn, Forbes said.
When firefighters arrived they found flames shooting out of the second story and fire threatening adjacent townhomes on both sides.
North Metro and Thornton firefighters contained the blaze to the one unit, Forbes said.
The mother and daughter were not home at the time of the fire.
“They went to a movie, and when they got home they found it in flames,” Forbes said. “A family member had unintentionally failed to blow out a candle before leaving the home, and the lit candle tipped over and ignited materials on top of a dresser.”
The townhome suffered heavy damage and the mother and daughter, who do not have renters insurance, will be living with family members nearby, Forbes said.
The estimated dollar loss on the property and contents is about $45,000.
Kieran Nicholson: 303-954-1822 or knicholson@denverpost.com.
