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© St. Petersburg Times, published September 27, 2002
TAMPA -- A Tampa family was left homeless Thursday night after a 3-year-old boy set fire to a bedroom in the home.
Tampa Fire Rescue Capt. Bill Wade said firefighters got the call about 7:55 p.m. to 5910 N Central Ave. When they arrived five minutes later, they saw smoke and flames coming from the single-story home.
Firefighters put the blaze out within 15 minutes, and no one was injured.
Wade said Maria Arroyo and her five children, ages 1 to 10, were at home when the fire started. Arroyo was in the kitchen when one of the children told her the bedroom was on fire. She tried putting out the fire with a small fire extinguisher and then a bucket of water, but she was unable to.
Investigators said the fire started when Arroyo's son got hold of a lighter. Wade said the child will be referred to the Juvenile Firestarters Program.
Damage to the house estimated at least $40,000.
Arroyo and her children planned to spend the night at a friend's home and will be aided today by Red Cross workers.