DECATUR — Fire completely destroyed a home at 201 Austin Avenue in Decatur during the early hours of Tuesday morning.

No one was home when the blaze started, according to Fire Chief David Flynt. The home was owned by Alan Turner and was rented to Judy Jackson, he said.

Jackson was in the process of moving to another residence so some of her belongings may have been spared, according to neighbor Jim Westwood.

The Decatur Fire Department responded to the fire about three minutes before midnight, Flynt said. The Gentry and Maysville Fire Departments also responded with a total of nine trucks, he said.

Later in the morning, Flynt and Benton County Fire Marshal Will Hanna were inspecting the house in the daylight. The house was a complete loss, Hanna said, pointing out the roof had collapsed and the floor had burned through.

Hanna said he found no evidence of any criminal acts during his investigation, but rather a “comedy of errors.”

Hanna said the fire was accidental and was probably caused by candles that were leftburning for lighting because the utilities had been turned off.

Although Jackson was living somewhere else when the firestarted, a relative was inhabiting the house. The relative had been drinking heavily and was using several candles for light. Because of his impaired state, the man left the house without putting out the candles, Hannah said.

The man was very forthright and helpful with the investigation and wasn’t breaking any laws, so no charges will be filled against him, Hannah said.

News, Pages 1 on 05/05/2010