2-year-old with lighter caused blaze at Springfield home, official says

Fire department investigators believe a 2-year-old child with a lighter started a fire at a central Springfield home that caused about $40,000 worth of damage Wednesday morning, a spokeswoman said.

Seven people were inside the home on the 1100 block of North Sherman Avenue, said Springfield Fire Department Spokeswoman Cara Erwin, and all seven were able to escape the house uninjured.

Battalion Chief Julie Williams said firefighters initially struggled to put out the fire from inside the home, so they battled the blaze from outside until it was controlled at about 7 a.m.

There were torches and welding equipment in the garage, Williams said, but firefighters were able to control the fire before it got near there.

There was smoke damage throughout the home, Williams said, and the front room had significant damage from the fire.

Erwin, the fire department spokeswoman, said the fire could have been prevented. She said there were several lighters in the house that the child had access to.

"You need to keep lighters and matches up and away from kids at all times," Erwin said. "Telling them no isn't enough."