A Chattanooga family is homeless following a fire Sunday night and the cause can be traced to a 4-year-old boy, according to fire officials.
The fire started around 9:45 p.m. at 3006 4th Ave. Crystal Brown was reportedly asleep on a couch in the front living room when she woke to discover that her couch was on fire. The woman gathered her two children, the 4-year-old and an 11-month-old, and got out of the house. The other adult in the house, Corey Miree, tried to douse the flames with a pan of water. When that failed, he also left and called 9-1-1.
Chattanooga firefighters arrived moments later and discovered the front section of the house engulfed in flames. Capt. David Barie with Engine 9 said the firefighters first attacked the fire on the outside of the house and then made their way inside for an interior attack. Firefighters with Engine 5, Ladder 5 and Squad 4 arrived to assist.
Capt. Barie said it took the firefighters roughly 10 minutes to get the blaze under control. No injuries were reported. The fire damage was contained to the front of the house, but there was smoke and water damage to the rest of the structure. The loss was estimated at around $20,000.
Lt. Anthony Moore with the Fire Investigation Division listed the cause as accidental. The 4-year-old boy confessed that he lit a piece of paper on fire with a cigarette lighter and when it got hot, he dropped it at the foot of the couch and ran into another room. Fortunately, his mother woke up and all got out safely. Lt. Moore said no charges will be filed against the boy.
Volunteers with the American Red Cross were called in to assist the family. They were renting the house, but did not have renter's insurance