Mattress fire is blamed on children with lighter

5/7/2002

Children playing with a cigarette lighter yesterday ignited a mattress in an upstairs bedroom and caused about $10,000 damage to their apartment in Brand Whitlock Homes.

Firefighters were sent to the Lucas Metropolitan Housing Authority complex, a block off Division Street, near Nebraska Avenue, shortly after 4 p.m.

Battalion Fire Chief Jerry Abair said Teresa D. Abernathy and her three children, ages 12, 9, 4, were at home in Unit 111 when the fire started. He said all made it out of the three-bedroom unit safely.