A small child playing with a lighter started a fire that set off the sprinkler system at the Yakima YWCA late this morning, Yakima firefighters said.
The fire was quickly extinguished, but the resulting flood of water damaged Christmas presents in a basement storage room, YWCA executive director Amy Flynn said.
The residents of the affected apartment -- a woman and two children -- and other residents and staff in the building were safely evacuated, Flynn said.
A mix of apartments and shelter lodging at the building, 818 W. Yakima Ave., holds a total of 30 women and 55 children.
"I'm just very thankful that everyone is OK," she said.
Capt. Jeff Pfaff of the Yakima Fire Department said crews responded about 11:45 a.m. to an automatic alarm triggered by the sprinkler system.
Pfaff said the sprinklers limited the fire damage within the one apartment.
He estimated that 2,000 gallons of water was released before the system could be shut down.