Firefighters respond to three South Side fires

staff report

YOUNGSTOWN — City firefighters responded to three bedding fires at homes on the city’s South Side late Thursday and early Friday.

Firefighters said a child playing with a cigarette lighter is believed to be the cause of the first blaze in a finished attic bedroom at the home of Samara Fant, 157 E. Ravenwood Ave., shortly after 9 p.m. Thursday. The occupants of the home were standing in the front yard with the first fire crew arrived.

The fire was confined to a mattress and box spring. Damage was estimated at $1,500.

A crew leaving that scene was dispatched to the home of Kali Smalls at 307 E. Lucius Ave. at 10:10 p.m. where a mattress, box spring and bedding in a room at the rear of the first floor was burning.

The cause was undetermined and damage was estimated at $3,000.

The third fire was at the home of Tanaya Simons, 333 Mistletoe Ave., around 3:50 a.m. Friday.

Firefighters said the occupants were standing outside when they arrived. The fire started in a first-floor child’s bedroom and involved a mattress, box spring, bedding and clothing.

The cause of the fire, which did $3,500 damage, was undetermined.