April 2, 2002

PRESS RELEASE
To: Newsroom
For Immediate Release
Contact: Brian A. Crawford, Public Information Officer
Phone: 673-6652, cell: 455-2609, page: 675-2137

Child Playing with Lighter Causes Fire that Damages Apartment

A fire that was started by a child playing with a cigarette lighter damaged a Martin Luther King neighborhood apartment this afternoon before firefighters were able to bring it under control.

The fire was first called into the Fire Communications Officers at Caddo 911 at 1:50 p.m. Firefighters responding to the Cooper Road Plaza Apartments, 2929 Peach Street, found upstairs apartment 83 of building N filtering black smoke out of the windows and doors upon their arrival. Firefighters attacked the fire, that appeared to be confined to a bedroom, while other rescuers hurried through the apartment in search of possible occupants - only to later learn that they had all made it safely out.

Fire investigators said that a 4-year-old started the fire by using the lighter on a bed covering in the apartment. Fire damage was listed as moderate, while smoke damage was apparent throughout the apartment. The child will more than likely be sent to