AHOSKIE – An unattended candle is being blamed for a fire that destroyed an Ahoskie home here Wednesday morning.

The Ahoskie Rural Fire Department was joined at the blaze at 111 Thurston Lane, located off Jernigan Airport Road, by Millennium and Winton firefighters. Even though the 29 firemen on the scene were able to bring the blaze under control in a short period of time, the damage was done.

“The homeowner (Loretta Jones) told me she had left a candle burning inside the house while she was outside pulling some weeds,” Ahoskie Rural Fire Chief George Bradley said. “She said she got thirsty and was going back towards the front of the house when she noticed the fire.”

Chief Bradley added that his investigation into the cause of the fire revealed no electrical problems inside the home. He said the “hot spot” was at a front picture window in the living room.

“That’s the spot where she said where the candle was left burning,” Bradley said.

The Fire Chief added that while the damage didn’t appear all that bad from the outside, other than the living room area, there was a lot of heat and smoke damage where there wasn’t any fire.

“We contained the fire to the living room and kitchen area, but the fire got up in the ceiling, causing heat and smoke damage to other parts of the house,” Bradley noted, adding that he listed the home as a total loss.

According to information supplied by the homeowner, Bradley said Jones has a son that lives nearby and she would be able to stay there for the time being.

The Ahoskie Rural Fire Department responded with three units and 10 firefighters to the 11 a.m. blaze. They remained on the scene until 1 p.m.

Chief Bradley, upon seeing the column of smoke produced by the fire as he was turning onto Jernigan Airport Road, immediately summoned the assistance of the Millennium and Winton fire departments. Millennium responded with two units and nine men while Winton arrived on the scene with two units and 10 firefighters.

A residence located next door to the Jones home was not damaged.