Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
PIERCETON -ÊA fire that broke out in a Pierceton apartment Friday night is believed to have started after a child was playing with a lighter.
According to Gordon Baker, Pierceton Fire Chief, an apartment at 202 W. Market St., Pierceton, sustained $15,000 damage and took about half an hour to control, after catching fire around 6:54 p.m. Friday evening.
A 6-year-old boy, Jason Nelson Jr., was playing with a lighter in a closet area of the residence. Papers on a shelf ignited and fell to the floor of the closet and spread from there.
The property is owned by Sharon Bailey and occupied by the boy and his parents, Jason Nelson Sr. and Charity Mishler.
No one was injured in the blaze.
The Winona Lake Fire Department, Pierceton Police Department and Pierceton Fire Auxiliary assisted at the scene. The North Webster Fire Department traveled to Pierceton and was on standby at the station during the fire.
