Boy playing with lighter sets fire to home

A Franklin firefighter sprays water on a hot spot in the home at 6686 Catskill Drive in Franklin after the house caught fire Thursday Aug. 6, 2009. The blaze was started by a boy playing with a cigarette lighter, according to fire officials.

Staff photo by Pat Auckerman A Franklin firefighter sprays water on a hot spot in the home at 6686 Catskill Drive in Franklin after the house caught fire Thursday Aug. 6, 2009. The blaze was started by a boy playing with a cigarette lighter, according to fire officials.

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By Danielle Wilson, Staff Writer Updated 8:06 PM Thursday, August 6, 2009

FRANKLIN — An 8-year-old boy playing with a lighter ignited a fire at a Catskill Drive home.

Crews responded at about 1:20 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 6, to 6686 Catskill Drive, where they found the single-story brick home engulfed.

Franklin fire Lt. Mike Perry said the fire started when the boy apparently awoke from a nap and set fire to a piece of paper, which fell onto a couch in the living room. The couch caught fire, which quickly spread.

The boy then awoke his 14-year-old cousin, who was baby-sitting him. She told him to run across the street for help, neighbors said.

Jessica Newcomb, 24, was across the street and ran to help call the animals out of the black, smoke-filled home. The teen ran back into the house to look for the animals, but came out empty-handed, said Newcomb.

The teenager in the house was sent to Atrium Medical Center, apparently due to smoke inhalation, according to Tom Goodwin, who owns the home.

Several pets perished in the fire, including two dogs, a cat, a rabbit, two mice and fish, Perry said.

The blaze caused $100,000 damage to the house and $55,000 to its contents. The home did not have a working smoke detector, he said.

“It’s pretty much a total loss,” Perry said.

Goodwin owned the house for 10 years and lives there with the boy’s aunt, Jodi Gieseking, Goodwin said.

“This is the first. I hope it’s the last,” Goodwin said of the fire.

Perry said because it was the first time the boy had allegedly started a fire, he will suggest to the boy’s mother that he attends a fire-starter program, which teaches youths the dangers of playing with fire.

Fire crews from Middletown and Lebanon and the Joint Emergency Medical Service also responded to the fire.

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2511 or dwilson@coxohio.com.

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Just ban lighters that will fix the problem.

Gunner
8:24 PM, 8/6/2009

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Don't you think that this 8 year old just discovered the dangers of starting fires??? They should be taught prior to something like this happening. This is something that parents and schools should focus on. You can take your child to your local fire department to learn about fire safety, and it's FREE!!! Just call your local fire department. Parents need to be more engaged! With this said I do know that accidents happen, I have a 9 year old myself! Take your child to the local fire dep.

A Little Late
4:33 PM, 8/6/2009

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