Family Says Boy, 9, May Have Had Role In House Fire

A family was forced to flee a northeast side home early Monday morning.

The home, located along Maple Hedge Way, caught fire around 4 a.m. The heat from the flames damaged a neighbor’s home.

A woman who lives in the home said that she believes her 9-year-old grandson started the fire while playing with sparklers in his room.

She said that the boy has some mental health issues and may not understand his actions.

“I just feel distraught,” said the grandmother, who wished to remain anonymous. “My daughter told me, she said, ‘Mom, his bed is on fire.’ I said, ‘His bed?’”

Neighbor Ron Malone said that the flames were so intense that they melted the siding off of his house.

“I was going downstairs, and I heard a hard knock on the door,” Malone said. “It was her daughter telling me to hurry up and get out. Their house was on fire.”

No injuries were reported during the fire. The American Red Cross was called to assist the family.

The cause of the fire was under investigation.

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