A fire Thursday afternoon at 2120 N.W. Janssen St. damaged an apartment and briefly shut Northwest Circle Boulevard, but there were no injuries.

According to Jim Patton, fire prevention officer with the Corvallis Fire Department, the fire was started by a candle left burning in the bathroom. It's not known how the candle came into contact with combustible material.

Chuck Harner, who lives a few units away from J7, the apartment that was involved in the fire, said he heard a woman scream and what sounded like an explosion. He called 911 at about 1:30 p.m., then went outside and realized there was a fire.

Another resident knocked on tenants' doors to evacuate them.

The first unit to arrive at the address reported smoke was visible from the front of the apartment. The fire was put out quickly and did not spread to other units. Once the blaze was out, firefighters ventilated the apartment and removed water from it and neighboring units.

Anthony Henry, who lives next door to the apartment that caught fire, said he too heard a "boom" sound.

Patton said the sound was likely caused by aerosol cans or other sealed containers bursting in the heat.

One of the apartment's tenants, Ariadne Esparza, was home when the fire broke out. She was able to get out unharmed, along with her dog and two cats.

The Red Cross is providing Esparza and the other tenant, Henry Barquinero, with temporary housing. They will not be able to reoccupy the apartment.

The fire caused significant damage to the bathroom and moderate damage to the adjacent kitchen. There also was minor heat and smoke damage in the bedroom and living room.

A pet mouse, which was on a high shelf in the kitchen, perished.

Northwest Circle Boulevard from Northwest Highland Drive to slightly west of Ninth Street was closed for about 20 minutes while firefighters brought the blaze under control.

Stations 1, 2, 3 and 6 responded to the fire with three engines and a ladder truck.

Patton said residents should remember to put candles out before leaving any room and be aware that even small candle flames can become large, uncontrolled fires very quickly.

The Corvallis Police Department and the Benton County Sheriff's Office assisted at the scene.