One Injured in House Fire Sparked By Lit Candle

Firefighters in Concord have controlled a house fire that gave minor burns to one resident who tried to muffle the fire with wet towels and a fire extinguisher, according to a fire official.

The one-alarm blaze was reported around 11:10 a.m. at a house in the 1900 block of Overhill Road, Contra Costa County Fire Marshal Lewis Broschard said. The blaze appears to have been sparked by a candle left burning in a back bedroom.

Firefighters knocked down the fire in about 10 minutes, and one of the home's residents was sent to a nearby hospital as a precautionary measure, he said. The resident suffered minor burns while trying to subdue the fire with wet towels and a fire extinguisher, said Broschard. 

The injuried received were to her hands and forearms. No other injuries were reported, said Broschard.

Flames spread to the living room, causing an estimated $250,000 in damage to the house and $40,000 to its contents, he said.

The two residents were displaced and are receiving assistance from the American Red Cross, said Broshcard.

Bay City News and Patch staff contributed to this report.