Local & State Headlines

Two sent to hospital after house fire

• A preliminary investigation suggests that a 7-year-old caused a Friday night house fire, officials say.

J.D. Sumner

ALBANY — An Albany home caught fire Friday night, sending two people to the hospital with what fire officials said were non life-threatening injuries.

Fire units responded to the 500 block of Flint Avenue after a home there caught fire, Deputy Dougherty County EMA Director Jim Vaught said.

The home reportedly sustained heavy damage and fire crews spent several hours controlling the fire and cleaning up debris, Vaught said.

Two people, who were not immediately identified, were taken by ambulance to Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation, but, according to Vaught, their injuries appeared to be relatively minor.

“They did transport two people to the hospital, but we don’t believe they were seriously injured,” Vaught said.

The fire was contained to the home’s living room, dining room and kitchen area, fire officials said, causing an estimated $40,000 in damage.

AFD Arson Investigator Sam Harris said that the fire was started by a 7-year-old after he lit a living-room chair on fire with a cigarette lighter.

Two adults, believed by Harris to be the grandmother and the father of the child, were the ones taken to the hospital.

The Department of Family and Children’s Services are expected to be notified of the situation as a matter of policy by the City of Albany, Harris said.

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