A lit candle is blamed for a fire early this morning that forced a couple to flee a Butler duplex with their two infant children.

No one was hurt in the fire that started in the bathroom of 215 First St., said Chief Nick Ban of the Butler Fire Department.

It did cause about $15,000 in damage and left tenants Brian Davis, his fiance Heather Thomas and their children — a 2-year-old and a 1-month-old — to find temporary housing.

"(Thomas) thought she had blown out the candle before they went to bed," Ban said. "But it was still burning."

The heat from the melted candle apparently cracked a ceramic container holding it on top of a vanity in the first-floor bathroom.

The family's duplex was not equipped with smoke detectors, fire officials said, but Davis was awakened by the smell of smoke.

They got their children and left safely. They called 911 and alerted the tenants on the other side of the duplex, which had working smoke detectors that had not gone off yet.

Firefighters used just 25 gallons of water to put out the fire, which occurred at 3 a.m.

The second-floor sustained smoke damage. The other side of the duplex was not damaged.

Authorities estimated damage at $10,000 to the apartment, and another $5,000 to its contents.

The family is staying with a relative.