Fire investigators say the careless use of a candle is the cause of a fire at an apartment complex on Porter Road in the Town of Niagara.
Town police say they received numerous calls about 8:40 p.m. Sunday of a fire at the Royal Park Apartments, 8521 Porter Road. The first officers on the scene reported heavy smoke coming from the roof line of the building.
Officer Pat Dworak and Niagara County Sheriff’s Deputies Frank Peplowski and Aaron Schultz entered the apartment building to check on whether anyone was inside or trapped. After going to six smoked-filled apartments, they determined the building was empty.
The fire was contained in a single apartment and the resident was treated for burns to his right hand. The resident of another apartment was taken to Memorial Medical Center for treatment of a shoulder injury.
Volunteers from Niagara Active Hose and Upper Mountain fire companies battled the blaze. The American Red Cross is providing assistance to the residents.
