Fire guts apartment near downtown Lexington

By Steve Lannen - slannen@herald-leader.com

A burning candle could be to blame for a fire in an apartment building Tuesday evening just off Elm Tree Lane.

The fire was reported about 7 p.m. at 264 East Fourth Street. Heavy smoke and flames poured from the four-plex and traffic was blocked on parts of Elm Tree Lane and Fourth Street.

Charles Bertram | Staff

Firefighters with the Lexington Fire Department work from a second floor roof as they put out a structure fire at a 2-story residential building. The fire was reported about 7 p.m. at 264 East Fourth Street. Heavy smoke and flames poured from the four-plex and traffic was blocked on parts of Elm Tree Lane and Fourth Street. Photo by Charles Bertram | Staff

Two of the apartment units were not occupied. The resident of a second-floor unit told authorities he had left a candle unattended, Battalion Chief Randy Gilliam said.

No one was injured in the fire. The second-floor apartment was heavily damaged and the other units had smoke and water damage, Gilliam said.