Times staff
Sunday, October 10, 2010
TAMPA — A 55-year-old man suffered slight burns trying to put out a house fire investigators say was caused by a citronella candle left burning.
Fire crews put out the blaze at 6204 N 42nd St. in about 10 minutes Sunday night and transported homeowner Bruce Bryant to Tampa General Hospital for minor burns. He was listed in good condition late Sunday.
Bryant had burned his hands while unsuccessfully trying to put out the fire, which had flared up in his utility room, according to a fire investigator.
The investigator determined that a citronella candle left burning in the room to ward off bugs had ignited the vapors of flammable liquids also in the room.
The fire caused an estimated $15,000 in damage, Tampa fire officials said.