PROVO — A dry Christmas tree appears to be responsible for a fire that sent a student birthday celebration up in flames Monday night.
According to Provo Deputy Fire Chief Tom Kuehlmann, the fire severely damaged a student apartment located at 763 E. 750 North. Police are trying to determine if a sparkler made contact with the parched tree or whether it was ignited by the large number of lights on the tree.
"They had a tree they described as, 'alive, dead and very dry,' " Kuehlmann said.
Kuehlmann said that the apartment's residents resorted to using a sparkler after discovering that they were one candle short for a birthday cake.
Shortly after the sparkler was lit, the tree burst into flames, Kuehlmann said.
"Christmas trees burn very hot and very rapidly," he said. "There was a lot of heat and smoke damage in addition to the actual fire damage."
Neighbors contacted the fire department after seeing flames and smoke burst from the apartment, which lies in the congested Condo Row area of student housing.
All of the partygoers and neighbors were able to escape without injury, but clothing and electronics in the apartment were burned. Kuehlmann estimated that the fire caused more than $100,000 in damage.
"Fortunately, the one thing they did correctly was keep the tree away from the exits," Kuehlmann said.
The deputy chief said an investigation is ongoing to determine the actual cause of the fire.
Kuehlmann said fireworks should never be lit inside an apartment or home. Kuehlmann also cautioned that at this time of year, that owners should keep Christmas trees watered and dispose of all dry trees before they become a fire hazard.
"Make sure your trees are safe," Kuehlmann said. "We're very fortunate that they (the residents) weren't asleep in a back room when this started."
E-mail: lwarner@desnews.com