Officials say child with lighter started Cedar Rapids garage fire

UPDATE: An 8-year-old boy playing with a lighter started a garage fire in northwest Cedar Rapids Tuesday afternoon -- a fire that left the boy with burn injuries.

Crews were called to 1416 10th St. NW at 4:25 p.m., and found the single-stall garage fully involved.

Troy and Jayne Thomas own the garage and adjacent home, and Jayne Thomas called 911 to report the fire, officials said. The Thomas' 8-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter were outside near the garage when the fire was reported.

Investigators determined that the boy was playing with a lighter inside the garage and set fire to cardboard boxes and other nearby combustibles. The boy suffered burn injuries and was taken to a local hospital, where he was treated and released.

The fire was contained to the detached garage.  There was no damage to the house, which was less than ten feet away, but the garage itself was a total loss. There were miscellaneous contents, including garden tools, inside the garage, but there was not a vehicle inside.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, 85 percent of the victims of fires set by children are the child themselves or another child.

Most children express a natural curiosity about fire.  The fire interest can begin as early as age 3. Younger children often do not have the cognitive ability to understand that a small fire can grow exponentially and get out of control. Children should be instructed to notify an adult if they find matches or lighters, rather than picking them up and taking them to an adult.

Parents or guardians should make sure that lighters and matches are stored up high, out of the sight of children or in a locked cabinet.