A 4-year-old boy used a lighter to start a fire that gutted his family’s home in Northglenn, officials say.
The fire at 1069 Dean Drive started at 4:30 p.m. Monday, said Wendy Forbes, spokeswoman for North Metro Fire Rescue.
The renters of the home escaped without injury, Forbes said.
The child was playing in a bedroom when he lit clothing with a lighter. The fire spread quickly.
Twenty firefighters worked on the blaze as it had fully engulfed the main floor of the home.
The cost of the damage is estimated at $167,000, Forbes said.
“At very young ages, children are curious about fire and do not understand the dangers associated it,” Forbes said. “In this case, we were fortunate that the child and family escaped. Too often children this age die in the fires that they set because they are afraid they will get in trouble.”
“If you find a child playing with fire, get help!” Forbes said. “The child in yesterday’s incident will be encouraged to work with North Metro’s certified juvenile fire-setter interventionist.”
Staff writer Kirk Mitchell can be reached at 303-954-1206 or kmitchell@denverpost.com.
