<p>Authorities have ruled as accidental a fire that displaced more than 60 people from an apartment complex just days before Christmas.</p><p>The fire, which damaged 12 units of a 24-unit building at Oakbrook Pointe Apartments, started Friday afternoon in a ground-floor unit, said Lt. Thomas Rutledge, Gwinnett County Fire Department spokesman.</p><p>A small child was playing with a lit candle in an apartment there and the couch caught on fire. The fire then extended to the second and third floors of the building, Rutledge said.</p><p>"Flames were through the roof when the fire crews arrived, he said.</p><p>The child's mother, who was in a separate room at the time, suffered a minor injury.</p><p>American Red Cross officials provided food, water, clothing and shelter for those who were displaced.</p><p>"Its close to the holidays and we're coming up on Christmas Eve," Rutledge said. "A lot of people have lost a lot of things, cherished things. Anything people can do to help these people begin to piece their lives back together will help greatly."</p><p>___</p><p>HASH(0x1cd9abc)</p>
