A malfunctioning hot water heater is the suspect in an apartment fire that erupted just before noon in Richmond, according to officials. Firefighters arrived in the 900 block of St. John’s Wood Drive to find smoke coming from two-story apartment. They located the fire and knocked it down. The occupant was able to flee the apartment before firefighters arrived. It is possible the hot water heater exploded, officials said. The incident is still under investigation.