Children, matches blamed for $40,000 house fire

2/23/2002

A fire started by children playing with matches caused $40,000 damage yesterday to a house on Mansfield Road near Westland Avenue in West Toledo, fire officials said.

Five children, 7 to 15 years old, who were home alone, were out of the house by the time fire crews arrived moments after the fire was reported about 5:15 p.m.

The children were playing with matches and paper when they accidentally started a fire in an upstairs bedroom of the two-story wood-frame house at 2141 Mansfield. Their mother, Krystal Davis, 31, was not home at the time, the fire officials said.

Firefighters contained the fire to the bedroom and had it under control in 15 minutes, the officials said.