N.O. Man, 40, Killed As Candle Triggers Fire
Submitted by N.O.V.A. July 2005
Times Picayune 	09-29-1998


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Candles pressed into service during a storm-related power failure set fire to a 9th
Ward residence early Monday, killing a New Orleans man, the New Orleans Fire Department
said.

David Shipman, 40, died shortly after one of four candle-related fires in the city
during the stormy night. He had burns over 85 percent of his body, Charity Hospital
spokeswoman Jean Patterson said.

Shipman was riding out Hurricane Georges at his brother's house at 3201 Clouet St.,
Fire Department spokesman Terry Hardy said. The house had smoke detectors, but they
weren't working because they operate on electricity and had no battery backup.

Hardy said Shipman noticed heavy smoke about 5:25 a.m., and alerted his sleeping
brother, identified by a neighbor as Darren Riley.

Riley escaped through a utility room window, but Shipman could not get out. His way was
blocked by the fire, boards across two of the house's windows and an air conditioner in
another window, Hardy said.

Riley went to a neighbor's house and asked Charlie Watkins, who was watching his
mother's home during the storm, to dial 911. Watkins said firefighters came quickly and
pulled Shipman from the house.

Shipman was found in the living room, where the fire started. Hardy said a candle on a
wall mounting set the house on fire.

There were no injuries in the other three candle-related fires, Fire Department
spokesman Raoul Castanedo said.

At the peak of the storm Monday, more than 250,000 homes and businesses were without
electricity in the metropolitan area, including 70,000 in St. Tammany Parish, and
180,000 in Orleans and Jefferson parishes, Entergy officials said.

The six-room, one-story wooden house had an estimated $35,000 worth of damage, and
there was about $15,000 worth of damage to contents, Hardy said. The one-alarm fire was
under control at 6:17 a.m. Some 30 firefighters and eight vehicles responded.