Child with Cigarette Lighter Sparks Apartment Fire on Cero Ct in Redlands

A child playing with a cigarette lighter ignited a fire Saturday night that damaged an apartment in a two-story building in Redlands, a city spokesman said.

The fire was reported about 10:30 p.m. Saturday in the 1100 block of Cero Court and a total of 19 firefighters from Redlands and Loma Linda responded, Redlands spokesman Carl Baker said in a statement.

"First arriving firefighters found heavy smoke conditions coming from the second floor," Baker said. "Firefighters initiated an aggressive fire attack and contained the fire to a single apartment unit that sustained heavy damage."

Everyone inside the apartment got out safe, Baker said. No injuries were reported.

"The cause of the fire was determined to be a child playing with a cigarette lighter," Baker said.

Damage was estimated at $50,000 and the American Red Cross responded to help the displaced family, Baker said.