Boys ignite mom's bed while toying with lighter

12/11/2001

Two young boys playing with a lighter caught a mattress in their mother's bedroom on fire yesterday, causing about $1,000 in damage to the home, Toledo fire authorities said.

Authorities are investigating two unrelated arson fires Sunday, including one that started in a car and spread to two neighboring houses. No one was injured in any of the fires.

The boys, ages 2 and 4, were playing with the lighter when the fire started about 11:25 a.m. yesterday in a second-floor bedroom at 808 Nevada St. Their mother, Dorothy Tristan, 21, called 911 and got them and their 1-year-old sibling out of the residence.

Ms. Tristan rents the house, which is owned by Dale Bak of Oregon, Mike Sbrocchi of the fire investigation unit said.

Arson was ruled as the cause of a fire that started Sunday in a car parked at 44 City Park Ave. and spread to the house at that address and a residence at 48 City Park.

The two two-story houses sustained about $5,000 damage each, and the car had about $500 damage, said Denis Bembenek of the fire investigation unit.

The fire was reported at 6:45 a.m. It started in a car owned by Ronnise Allen, 26, of Toledo and spread to 44 City Park, which is owned and occupied by Ted Bey, Sr., 73.

The blaze spread to 48 City Park, which is owned by Terry Lee, 37, and occupied by Walter Griffin, 63, Mr. Bembenek said.

The other arson fire Sunday occurred at an unoccupied house at 1818 Starr Ave. and was reported at 8:35 p.m. It began in the area of a chair located in an upstairs bedroom/attic area of the 11/2-story residence. It caused about $3,000 damage. Marlow Salpietor, the occupant, is moving out of the house, which is owned by a real estate company in Oregon, Mr. Bembenek said.