EARLY MORNING BLAZE DAMAGES HOME

Authorities say a young child playing with a cigarette lighter may have been responsible for a fire on Monday that caused extensive damage to a residence in the northeast part of Cape Girardeau.

The fire was reported at 8:40 a.m. at 400 Timon Way, located off Dumais and Country Club Drive.

Capt. Ron Kistner said the rear bedroom of the 1 1/2-story block stucco house was fully involved in flames and smoke when firefighters from Fire Station Three and One arrived. The fire was brought under control in less than 10 minutes.

Kistner said the house is owned by Todd McBride, and was rented by Tim Pender. Kistner said Pender's wife and two children, a boy age 5, and girl age 3, were in the house when the fire broke out.

"The fire started in the children's rear bedroom. Apparently, the 5-year-old was in the bedroom playing with a cigarette lighter and accidentally ignited combustible material," Kister said.

"The boy ran into the other room and woke up his mother. When she went to the bedroom to check, the fire was burning in one corner of the room. The mother immediately called 911."

Kistner said the fire caused extensive damage to the bedroom and contents, and extensive heat and smoke damage to the rest of the contents and the house.

No one was injured.