LAWRENCEBURG, Ind. --
Authorities charged a 10-year-old boy Monday with starting a fire that damaged or destroyed five buildings in Lawrenceburg.
Police said the boy set some paper on fire with a lighter and tossed on some plastic foam, which caused the blaze to accelerate and become larger.
"It was something that put the child in the wrong place at the right time, something that got out of hand," said one detective.
The fire devastated a downtown block High and Walnut streets and caused at least $1 million in damage, authorities said.
"I was terrified," said Katherine Brock. "I'm in the middle of Price Hill working and I heard fire."
Her daughters boyfriend, Josh Fillers, heard the smoke alarm sounding.
"I went to check the rest of my house to see if it was something in the back. As soon as I walked outside I saw the smoke heading over the river and flames shooting up across the alley and about that time, the trucks started pulling up," Fillers said.
Abby Brock arrived home moments later. They watched their friend's apartment fall victim to the flames and were afraid to see what their place looked like.
"Half of my books are in my car, though, so that's a couple hundred dollars that are safe...but everything else is gone for now."
Fire crews from nine Indiana and Ohio fire departments helped fight the flames, and several firefighters were treated for injuries suffered when they slipped on ice from their hoses.
Emergency management director Bill Black said the fire began in a small business office, and quickly spread to four more buildings. Because they're connected, there were fears that what started as a small fire could be a big problem.
"It could have spread and took out a whole city block," Black said.
One firefighter was also treated for smoke inhalation, but no other injuries were reported.
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