Maid held after candle causes fire in house

DUBAI A Filipina maid was arrested and jailed for a day recently after a pet cat accidentally knocked over an unattended candle, causing a fire in her employer’s house.

Perla Cuison, 44, who works for a British family in The Villa, Dubailand, said she had lit a tealight in memory of her husband as it was his death anniversary.

“Who would have thought a cat would pounce on it and cause such a big fire? That said, I have learnt a lesson the hard way and will remain more cautious in future,” she said shortly after her release.

The incident took place when Cusion’s employer, Lesley Muncey, was holidaying with her husband in Cyprus.

It is believed the blaze started in the bathroom when the burning tealight fell into a laundry basket.

Cuison said she chose the bathroom for the ritual because she thought it would be safe there.

“I left the candle unattended when one of Madam’s friends dropped by to check on her cats. I went to make coffee for her. Minutes later I saw thick plumes of smoke billowing out from the bathroom.

“Her friend and I rushed there, tried to douse the fire but the flames spread quickly and were soon licking at the ceiling tiles,” Cuison recalled.

Somehow we managed to put out the fire, but her friend wanted to make sure there was no damage to the geyser so she called the emergency number. “

Soon the police arrived and Cuison was taken into custody for questioning.

She wasn’t released until the following evening.

Muncey, who is now back in Dubai, said a case has been registered against the maid for causing the fire by leaving a candle without supervision.

She said there was no fire safety alarm in the villa when the incident took place. “But we have got one installed now,” she added.

Safety experts stress on how burning candles must never be left unsupervised. They should be kept in firm holders and on flat and stable surfaces to stop them falling over.

The candleholder should be placed on a heat resistant surface like a ceramic plate as tea lights can melt plastic surfaces. It is also important to keep candles and tealights away from curtains, furniture or hanging objects.

Above all, candles, tealights, matches and lighters must be kept out of the reach of children and pets.