Wednesday, February 25, 2004
HOWLAND -- A 5-year-old girl is in the burn unit at Children's Hospital Medical Center in Akron after suffering second-degree burns to both arms and her right side and back when an explosion and fire rocked her home Tuesday afternoon at 3891 Niles Road.
A 2-year-old boy, 3-year-old girl and the children's father were treated for smoke inhalation at St. Joseph's Medical Center. Howland fire officials did not identify the victims.
The explosion and fire erupted at 2:08 p.m., the fire department said. An investigator from the Ohio State Fire Marshal's Office was called to the scene. An official with the fire marshal's office said investigators found a spray paint can and a lighter in the room where the fire broke out. Investigators are planning to speak to the children today.
Damage was estimated at $2,500 to the house and $2,500 to its contents.
Firefighters found residents outside in the front yard with the children in the car. A picture window on the side of the house was blown out, the door to the children's bedroom was blown off its hinges, and a small mattress was ablaze in that bedroom, the fire department said.
Ten firefighters responded with three engines, a ladder truck and a rescue squad.