Child with lighter sparks Cedar Rapids house fire

Fire officials said a child apparently sparked the second house fire Monday morning in Cedar Rapids.

More than a dozen firefighters responded around 8:50 a.m. to 411 30th St. Dr. SE when the fire was reported. A mother and two children who were inside were already out of the single-story house when they arrived.

Battalion Chief John Pulver said the first firefighters inside doused a three-foot area of flames on one of the back rooms. He said the fire spread to curtains near a window. Early indications were that a child had been playing with a lighter in the room, Pulver said.

“We teach them and try to train them that it's a tool, not a toy,” Pulver said.

Firefighters used fans to push smoke out of the home, but Pulver said the fire was caught quickly. He said they encourage families to lock up lighting sources or keep them up high.

“Curiosity is probably going to get the best of them,” Pulver said.

It was the second house fire in just five hours Monday morning. Two people escaped the other house fire, at 1018 Tiara Dr. NE, which broke out around 4:15 a.m.