Six people were forced from their home when a fire sparked by a candle gutting part of a rooming house early yesterday morning.

The blaze broke out just after midnight at 447 Catherine Avenue when an electric fan blew a flag onto a lit candle, said Ottawa Fire Services spokesman Marc Messier.

The resident of the tried to put out the flames with water, but failed. Then he alerted the other residents of the rooming house. No one was injured.

“The one from the fire unit will be out [of the home] for a while, because it was completely gutted,” said Messier, adding the other units weren’t as badly damaged and the residents will probably be able to return soon.

“We’d like to remind people that if they’re using candles, be careful and make sure there’s no combustible material around them,” said Messier.