An 11-month-old girl perished in a Lauderhill fire likely caused by a candle that had been lit by a mother whose electricity had been turned off, authorities said.

The mother, Sasheena Reynolds, and her 3-year-old son, Jahhael, escaped the blaze which erupted about

9 p.m. Monday at the Falls of Inverrary, 6010 S. Falls Circle Dr.

But her infant daughter, Jada, who was born on Christmas Day 2007, died from smoke inhalation, according to the Broward Medical Examiner.

Family spokeswoman Constancia Daley said the power was out in the family's fourth-floor condo because they had not paid their bill. She did not elaborate, except to say that Sasheena Reynolds was with her children at the time of the fire.

''It's a big loss for the family. She was such a happy baby,'' said Carol McKay, a family friend who attends the Tamarac church led by Sasheena Reynolds' father-in-law.

McKay said Jada was a beloved child who could often be heard babbling during worship services at the Greater Life Apostolic Ministries on University Drive. Members of the church planned to meet Tuesday night to gather supplies and other help for the family.

Fire officials confirmed that power had been shut off to the apartment and that a candle may have triggered the blaze.

More Floridians are struggling with their utility bills in this tough economy, a fact highlighted by the high number of residents who are asking for help with their payments. According to the Florida Public Service Commission, 1,460 electric customers statewide asked to arrange payment plans in October and November, almost double the 770 requests during the same period last year.

Florida Power & Light said its number of customer accounts that are more than 60 days past due have increased 17 percent from last year. The company said it has worked to establish several programs aimed at helping poor families pay their electric bills.

FPL spokesman Mayco Villafaña said, ''We extend our deepest sympathies to the Reynolds family,'' but offered no details on the family's bill. ``FPL accounts are confidential to the account holder. . . .''

On Tuesday, what was left of the Reynolds apartment was a heap of twisted metal and rubble. Its roof was nearly gone.

Neighbor Yvonne Beltran, 47, said she realized something was wrong when she stepped onto her balcony and heard cries for help at the time of the fire.

'I heard someone yelling, `Help me! Help me!' '' Beltran said.

Beltran ran through her apartment toward an outside hallway, where she saw a fire in a kitchen window of an apartment one story up. By the time Beltran had reached the hallway, neighbors were already running to aid the screaming woman.

Beltran and her husband, Eduardo, 51, waited outside their building Tuesday until inspectors told them it was safe to return home.

At the complex, a witness said she heard Sasheena Reynolds crying Monday night about how she had lit a candle because her power was cut off and left her apartment briefly to go to the nearby laundry room.

On Tuesday night, the family gathered in Sasheena's mother's home in Tamarac to grieve for Jada, whom she last saw on Thanksgiving.

``One thing that really sticks out in my mind is she was waving bye to everybody.''

Daley said Jada was the first baby born Christmas Day 2007.

Parents Keith and Sasheena were devastated, Daley said. ``They're hurting. We're all hurting. We're a tight family, a family of pastors.''

Daley, a pastor at Rahme Word Ministries, said Sasheena was a seminary graduate and on Sunday gave her first-ever sermon at her father-in-law's church, Greater Life Apostolic Ministries.

Keith Reynolds works at the church in youth services, Daley said.

The investigation continued Tuesday, but was hampered by concerns about the structure's stability.

''We have not been able do any investigation other than what police are doing because of fire damage,'' Lauderhill Deputy Fire Chief Marc Celetti said. ``We need to determine what we can do to stabilize the roof so we can actually conduct the investigation.''

The fire damaged at least six units in the 72-unit complex. The American Red Cross was assisting those families with vouchers for food, clothing and shelter.

''We are very concerned when economic difficulties affect our customers,'' FPL's Villafaña said in an e-mail to The Miami Herald.

The utility has created a program to help those in need, called Care-To-Share. ``Disconnection of electric service is clearly a last resort of FPL.''

Miami Herald staff writers Jennifer Mooney Piedra and John Dorschner contributed to this report.

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