Officials: Child caused Pasadena fire

PASADENA, Md. - A house caught fire Thursday in Pasadena, and officials say the blaze was the result of a child.

“It was accidental in nature, caused $20,000 in damage, displaced three adults and four children,” said Anne Arundel County Fire Department Chief Michael Cox. “We were able to determine the fire was started by a child playing with a lighter.”

Four kids, ranging from ages 14 months to 6-years-old made it out safe. Fire officials say it was a 4-year-old that was playing with the lighter.

“In this case he caught some clothes on fire, reported it to his father. The father grabbed a fire extinguisher and attempted to put out the fire,” Chief Cox said.

The fire extinguisher was emptied, but it was not enough to put out the fire.

Two of the children go to High Point Elementary School, and the school is taking donations for the family.

County fire officials have advice for those with young children in the house.

“Educate the children about dangers of playing with matches of lighters, but also keep them out of eye level or in plain sight of the children,” Cox said.