The girlfriend apparently said yes to the romantic Wednesday night proposal, and the couple left town early Thursday for a trip out west, Metz said. Unfortunately, at least one of the candles apparently stayed lit.
"We got the call about 7:15 this morning, and when I got there five minutes later the gazebo was fully involved in flames," the chief said. "Luckily, nothing else burned."
Metz tracked down Waterhouse at a New York airport and told him about the fire, but advised him to continue with his trip.
"Nobody was hurt, so I told him to go ahead with his vacation," the chief said. "He gave me his brother's number, and the brother told me about the proposal."
The chief said the fire was "a unique event."
"We've had candle fires, of course, but I can't remember one at this level of romance."
