South Hill Man Burned Trying To Douse Apartment House Fire

A South Hill man was injured Monday night after he tried to douse an apartment house fire with water from a fish tank and a fire extinguisher.

Sylvester L. Pecnick, 42, was treated for second-degree burns to his chest, arms and face at Deaconess Medical Center, authorities said.

A lighted candle in Pecnick’s bedroom sparked the blaze shortly before 6 p.m. in the second-floor apartment at 1305 W. Fifth, Fire Chief Hal Williams said.

Williams said Pecnick accidentally tipped over the candle when he left the bedroom to answer the door.

Firefighters evacuated the building, a part of the Casaloma Apartments complex. The annex has two units.

“There’s heavy damage to the second floor,” Williams said. “The kitchen and two adjoining rooms are ruined.”

, DataTimes