Fire blamed on child playing with cigarette lighter

GAINESVILLE - An early morning fire Tuesday damaged a house on the southside of Gainesville and was started by a child playing with a cigarette lighter.

Gainesville Fire Chief Jon Canada said the fire - which occurred about 8:00 - was confined to a bedroom. He said the youngster, a 7-year-old, used the lighter to set a bed on fire and the flames spread into a wall.

However, Canada says firefighters "got a quick knockdown" on the fire and were able to contain the blaze to the bedroom. There was heavy smoke damage throughout the house, however.

A total of five people were in the house at the time but all escaped uninjured.

The Red Cross is assisting them.