Firefighters responded to a fire in Kelso Tuesday evening after an 8-year-old lit a shed on fire by playing with a barbecue butane lighter, according to fire officials.
The dispatch reported black smoke and flames were coming from the backyard on the 500 block of South Fourth Avenue, threatening structures nearby. Two fire engines, a medic unit and fire chief responded and extinguished the fire in under 3 minutes, according to Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue. No injuries were reported.
Fire officials said the 10-by-10-foot shed was a total loss with about $750 worth of items.
Children playing with matches and lighters cause hundreds of deaths and injuries every year, according to the Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue statement.