Atlantic Fire Chief Mark McNees, this (Thursday) morning, said the cause of a house fire that took place early Wednesday morning at 107 E. 9th Street, was determined be accidental. An investigation at the scene by Chief McNees and Fire/Arson investigator Paul Wood, as well as interviews conducted by the AFD and the APD, determined that the blaze at around 3:20-a.m., was caused by a lit candle coming into contact with furniture and papers in the residence. 64-year old Rick Parrot was at home at the time of the blaze and was awakened by flames surrounding his head, after he fell asleep while reading a paper, on a couch just inside the main entrance of the home. Parrott attempted to extinguish the blaze by using pillows, but the fire quickly spread and he was forced out of the home by the heat and smoke. Parrott, who has mobility issues, then attempted to wake neighbors as the fire spread throughout the home. He continued to travel away from the scene to a friends home with the intent to return by vehicle, but did not do so during the incident.

McNees said in a press release “ Mr. Parrott was very fortunate to have escaped the blaze unharmed and we are thankful of that. While it would have been very helpful to know he was safely out of the home, it’s somewhat understandable that he was in shock and didn’t make it back before we left. Police did establish through relatives that he was not in the home during the time we were on scene. “

The results of the investigation match details of the incident and the fire will be ruled accidental. McNees cautioned residents that candles are one of the leading causes of home fires and should never be left unattended.