A 6-year-old girl playing with matches started a roaring fire in an Oakland Park apartment building that left two people with minor injuries and destroyed an apartment Monday.
The fire broke out around 10:44 a.m. in a first-floor unit at Casa de Roma apartments in the 5800 block of North Dixie Highway.
Opra Robinson, 64, was baby-sitting her granddaughter when the little girl grabbed a matchbook, crawled under a bed, and started a fire, said John Treston, a spokesman for the Oakland Park Fire Department.
The fire spread quickly from the bed throughout the apartment, Treston said.
''The apartment is small and the walls are made from concrete,'' Treston said. ``These sort of structures usually trap the heat from the fire, which causes it to get out of control.''
Robinson and her granddaughter were treated by firefighters for smoke inhalation, Treston said.
Robinson's apartment was completely destroyed, but no other units in the building were damaged, Treston said.
Robinson had agreed to watch the girl this week while schools are closed for winter break, Treston said.
Rick Tobin, 51, a resident of Casa de Roma, said he was working when he looked out the window of his home and saw flames darting out of Robinson's apartment. He and a friend raced over and pounded on the door of the burning apartment.
Tobin said he helped Robinson and her granddaughter get out of the building.
''I got them out just in time,'' Tobin said. ``You couldn't breathe in there.''
Robinson's granddaughter was reported to the Broward County Juvenile Fire Setters Program, Treston said.
The Robinson family will undergo counseling to determine what caused the girl to start the fire, he said.
The Broward Red Cross offered to replace Robinson's clothing and find accommodations through tonight, Treston said.
Since Christmas Eve, the Broward Red Cross has assisted eight families who were victims of several house fires, including nine people in Pompano Beach, three in Miramar, and five in Coral Springs, in addition to Robinson.
All Red Cross disaster assistance is free and made possible by voluntary donations.
Those who wish to donate can send a check made out to American Red Cross to the Broward County Chapter, American Red Cross, 6710 W. Sunrise Blvd., Plantation, Fla. 33313, or call 954-797-3800.
Herald writer R.C. White contributed to this report.
