Briefs ; Child playing with lighter ignites Lake Anna blaze

Date published: 9/15/2003

Child playing with lighter ignites Lake Anna blaze

A Lake Anna family escaped without injury Saturday after a child playing with a cigarette lighter started a fire in the home, Spotsylvania County fire officials said yesterday.

It was the second house fire in the county in the past month caused by a child playing with a lighter or matches, fire officials said. Each time, the blaze caused extensive damage to the home.

Fire officials said they hoped the latest incident would serve as a reminder to people to keep matches and lighters out of the reach of children.

Saturday's fire started about 9:30 a.m. in a bedroom of the single-story house on Lewiston Road and spread to the attic, according to Don Taylor, assistant director of the county's Department of Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services.

Five of the six occupants of the home--four of them children--were inside when the fire started.

Four fire stations responded to the fire, and had it under control in about 30 minutes, but remained there for about another hour. Fire damage was limited to the bedroom and attic; the remainder of the house suffered smoke, heat and water damage.

The family, which was displaced, has been receiving help with shelter and clothing from the American Red Cross.

--Pamela Gould

Read more stories about Spotsylvania
Date published: 9/15/2003