Kauai house fire started by candles, officials say

Unattended burning candles started a fire that damaged a home in Wailua on Kauai, a county spokeswoman said today.

Firefighters responded to the blaze at Royal Drive at 5:38 p.m. Monday. Neighbors saw flames in the studio apartment on the home’s second floor and immediately alerted the residents, a brother and sister. Fire officials said the fire spread to the ground floor of the house. 

The residents and three dogs escaped unharmed. The fire was brought under control in a half-hour and extinguished at 6:45 p.m. 

Fire officials classified the fire as accidental. Damage to the structure and contents was estimated at $700,000.