AMARILLO, TEXAS -- Amarillo fire officials are blaming a child playing with a lighter as the cause of a house fire Thursday evening.
None of the four people inside the house were injured in the fire.
At about 6 p.m., firefighters responded to a fire at a home in the 100 block of South Forest Street.
The fire was started by a child playing with a lighter, fire officials said. It originated by a closet in the front bedroom and extended into the bedroom.
Firefighters said smoke alarms were inside the home but the batteries had been removed. Fortunately, the family was awake and was able to escape without injury.
The fire was extinguished in less than 20 minutes. Firefighters estimate the damage was $10,000 to the structure and about $20,000 in fire and smoke damage to the contents.
The Texas Panhandle Chapter of the American Red Cross is assisting the family.
Residents are urged to have working smoke alarms inside their homes. Batteries should be replaced twice a year. For more information on smoke alarms from the Amarillo Fire Department, click here.
