Three people escaped without injury when a fire sparked by a burning candle erupted in their apartment unit on Ennis Creek Road late Monday night.
The three occupants escaped before firefighters arrived, said Chief Sam Phillips of Clallam County Fire District No. 2.
The fire in Apartment 4 at 2447 E. Ennis Creek Road was reported at 11:58 p.m. to emergency dispatchers in Port Angeles by Jacob Carter, one of the residents of the involved apartment, Phillips said.
The other occupants at the time of the fire were Brandon Carter and his girlfriend, Phillips said.
Investigators determined through interviews and examination of the scene that the fire was started by an unattended candle left burning in the bedroom, the fire chief said.
Damage to the structure and contents is estimated at $60,000, he added.
Firefighters from Fire District No. 2 responded from the fire station two blocks away in the Gales Addition to find smoke showing from the rear of the apartment.
Occupants reported to firefighters they awakened to find heat and smoke filling the unit quickly.
When they attempted to enter the bedroom, which was on fire, the door was sucked closed by the flames, they said.
Firefighters arriving on the first engine were able to quell the blaze before it extended to other apartment units.