Child playing with lighter is blamed for starting fire that causes $150,000 damage to Allouez house
ALLOUEZ - A child playing with a lighter Thursday morning sparked a blaze that caused an estimated $150,000 damage to a house at 622 E. Mission Road.
The blaze left four adults, three children and their dog homeless, said Tony Piontek, a battalion chief in the Green Bay Metro Fire Department.
A caller reported smoke and flames coming from the home about 9:40 a.m. Thursday. The first fire crew on the scene reported heavy fire in the garage of the ranch-style home. Firefighters quickly doused a house next door after it began burning because of heat from the initial fire.
The next crews to arrive began an interior attack because flames had spread to the home's living area. Firefighters had the fire under control within 30 minutes.
One of the home's residents was treated at the scene for minor injuries.
The American Red Cross is assisting residents.
Juveniles are responsible for dozens of fires each year in the Green Bay-Allouez-Bellevue area, Piontek said; the Green Bay Fire Marshal's Office reminds parents to keep lighters and smoking materials away from children.
More: Fire causes an estimated $1 million in damages at Packer City Sales in Green Bay
Contact Doug Schneider at (920) 431-8333, or DSchneid@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @PGDougSchneider.
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Child playing with lighter blamed in $150,000 fire in Allouez home
