Kid Playing with Lighter Blamed for Pa. Blaze

Nov. 30--A 6-year-old child playing with a lighter sparked a fire that displaced up to 70 people from Carbondale's Summit Garden Apartments on Friday.

Firefighters were called to the Westgate Drive apartment building about 8 a.m. and found thick, black smoke in the building and flames that appeared to have started in the bedroom of a a first-floor apartment.

"As soon as we got in there, we knew it was either someone smoking in bed or playing with matches," City Fire Chief Chris Pezak said.

His hunch proved correct. State police Fire Marshal John Chervanka determined the cause was a 6-year-old playing with a lighter, the chief said.

Pezak said the blaze displaced "50 or more" people and called the fire "a terrible disaster." Red Cross volunteer June Ejk pegged the number of residents at "approximately 70" but said not everyone was home when the fire started.

The fire was generally contained to a bedroom, but there was clear evidence it had damaged part of the exterior of the building while climbing to a window on the second floor. Several windows near the point of origin had been shattered.

"We strongly feel it started in the bedroom," the chief said.

Pezak said they had no trouble getting water to the fire but did find at least one fire hydrant not working near the scene. Crews laid 2,500 feet of hose through the complex parking lot on Westgate Drive. He is unaware of any injuries and everyone was accounted for after crews did a sweep of the building.

"As far as I know, no one is hurt," Pezak said.

When Mary Gerzie, 72, heard the fire alarm sound on Friday, she opened her door and saw the thick smoke billow into her apartment. Gerzie, who has lived in the complex for 15 years, then heard shouts to "get out of here."

Ejk said one man had just moved into the building with his two school-aged children from Wayne County last week.

A woman on the second floor could not get out through the smoke and was afraid to climb down a fire department ladder, so firefighters lowered her to safety in a bucket from one of the trucks.

Ejk said Cottage Hose Company took people who did not have other means of transportation by ambulance to the fire house, where they could warm up while they tried to get in touch with loved ones.

The Red Cross found housing for several of the complex's residents, but friends and relatives took in most people who lived in the apartments in the building, Ejk said.

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