Juvenile playing with lighter causes fire

By Journal staff | Tuesday, November 04, 2008

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Rapid City Department of Fire & Emergency Services knocked down a structure fire about 1:18 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2, at 604 Terrace Drive. Upon arrival, fire fighters entered the two-story rental structure, noting light smoke and intense heat at the top of the stairs, where they found a small fire in a bedroom. Fire department officials determined that the cause of the fire to be a juvenile playing with a lighter.

Courtney Roberts said her daughter accidentally started the blaze after finding a lighter in a jeans pocket. Roberts had just put her 3-1/2-year-old daughter down for a nap Sunday afternoon and had the 1-year-old in a crib in her room downstairs.

The 3-1/2 year old ran downstairs, alerting her mother that there was a fire in her bedroom. Roberts ran to the bedroom and found the toddler’s bed engulfed in flames as well as the child’s stuffed toys. “She never showed any interest in anything like that. Now, she’s just traumatized by it all,” Roberts said.

According to Roberts, the fire burned through most of the top floor where the bedrooms were, heat and smoke significantly damaging most of the furnishings and clothing on that floor. The family of four, which includes Roberts fiance, who was away for the weekend hunting, has lost their clothes and personal belongings, including some important records. “My poor kids don’t have anything to wear or any toys,” she said.

She was able to rescue some furniture that was in the downstairs part of the rental. They have no close relatives living in Rapid City.

“The Red Cross has been good enough to put us up for a few nights at the Quality Inn, but after that, we don’t know,” she said of the family’s future plans.

According to Capt. Mark Kirchgesler, the fire was quickly extinguished and crews began ventilation of smoke and heat. Additional crews assisted with searching all floors. Overhaul began in the room as crews searched for possible fire extension into the ceiling. No additional fire was found.

“No smoke alarms were present or working within the home,” Kirchgesler said.

This incident points out several fire safety concerns, he said.

No. 1 -- Juvenile fire starting continues to be a significant cause of fires within the United States. Children themselves are the predominant victims in juvenile started fire.

No. 2 -- Smoke alarms provide an early warning of fire and allow home occupants a better chance of escape while the fire is still small. Working smoke alarms reduce home fire deaths by 50 percent.

No. 3 -- Evacuating all occupants should be done as soon as a fire has been detected. Even a small fire can produce dangerous heat and smoke and threaten lives if evacuation is delayed.

The department's Fire Prevention Division provides a Juvenile Firesetter program to those having children involved with fire setting. For those seeking help, contact the Prevention Division at 394-5233.

“It can take very little time for a small fire to spread throughout a room and spread very dangerous heat and smoke conditions within a structure,” he said.