Three people escaped injury last week from a Perry Lake Road house fire believed to have been started by a five-year-old playing with a cigarette lighter.
The Independence Township Fire Department and Oakland County Sheriff deputies were dispatched at about 9 a.m. on March 24. According to sheriff reports, an 18-year-old woman was awakened by a smoke detector to find a fire in the bedroom of her parents, who had already left for work.
The young woman at first attempted to put out the fire herself, but was unsuccessful. She then gathered her baby sister and a five-year-old niece and left the house, reports said.
According to sheriff reports, fire investigators learned that the five-year-old confessed to playing with a cigarette lighter in the bedroom.
Sheriff reports said there was fire damage to a floor rug and the bed, with smoke damage to one side of the house and minor water damage.
Fire Captain Tom McDonald later said the damage to the home was considered ‘moderate.?