Child playing with lighter causes fire at Michigan Place Apartments

(From the Joplin Fire Department)

At 06:29 AM, the Joplin 911 center received a report of a structure fire at the 1502 Michigan Place Apartments. Joplin Fire, Joplin PD, and METS Ambulance all responded with Joplin PD arriving first to find smoke in the structure. 

The Joplin officer began evacuation efforts as our first crews were arriving.

 

JFD personnel worked to evacuate the structure and confined the fire to the apartment of origin within 10 minutes of arrival.

 
There were no injuries reported and the Red Cross was notified to assist with any displacement of families.

 
After investigation the Joplin Fire Marshal ruled the fire as accidental from a child playing with a lighter.