
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, October 24, 1994                   TAG: 9410240087
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: MATT CHITTUM
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

CHILDREN PLAY WITH MATCHES, SET HOUSE AFIRE

A woman was taken to the hospital Sunday evening after her two children set their home ablaze while playing with matches.

It is the fourth fire in just over a month in the Roanoke Valley that was started by children with matches or lighters.

The fire started in the back bedroom of a house at 4122 Wyoming Ave. N.W., according to a report filed by Roanoke District Fire Chief James Patton.

Firefighters had the blaze under control in less than fifteen minutes, the report said, but the fire still did about $20,000 damage to the house. The mother had a small burn on her face. The children were not injured.

In September, two Northwest Roanoke apartments were damaged by children playing with matches, and in early October, a Salem family had to be treated for smoke inhalation after a child playing with a lighter started a fire.

by CNB