BY SHEILA McLAUGHLIN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
MASON -- A fire that raced through a two-story house in the 700 block of Lind Place Thursday evening was started by a child playing with a lighter or matches, fire officials said Friday .
"The information we have is that the mother was upstairs with the 11-month-old preparing dinner. The 3-year-old said something along lines of, "Mom I didn't mean to' or "Mom it wasn't my fault' and ran to his room," Mason Deputy Fire Chief Steve Pegram said.
Jennifer Rayman discovered a fire in the family room downstairs about 6:45 p.m. The 20-year-old mother gathered Brandon and infant Joshua, and escaped the burning structure.
The three were treated for first- and second-degree burns on their hands and faces and released from local hospitals Thursday night.
Deputy Chief Pegram said the fire started in a couch in the family room where the older child was playing. The parents told firefighters that a butane lighter commonly used to ignite barbecue grills was in the family room at the time, as were matches.
Eighty percent of the house was destroyed at a $100,000 loss. The family is temporarily living with relatives in Wilmington, fire officials said.
In the meantime, Mason firefighters continue to accept donations of clothes, toys and furniture for the Raymans at Station 51, 135 Mason-Montgomery Road. For information, call 459-7164.
