Fire set by child damages Kennett residence

Daily Dunklin Democrat

KENNETT, Mo. -- What could have easily become a tragedy was averted Thursday after a 6-year-old girl set fire to her home.

The Kennett Fire Department was called to 308 Varner St. at 10:27 a.m. and upon their arrival, saw flames and smoke coming from the one-story frame structure.

Firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze which heavily damaged a bedroom in the southwest corner of the house, which sustained smoke and fire damage throughout.

The house is owned by Bonnie Parr and rented to Lynette Whitfield, fire chief John Mallott said.

City fire marshal Scott Tutor said Whitfield's daughter set the fire in the bedroom, igniting a sheet with a lighter. The flames spread to other bed covers and to the walls of the room.

Whitfield was sleeping in the living room when she was awakened by her daughter. The girl told her mother that she had set a fire in the bedroom.

Whitfield took her daughter outside, then returned and attempted to put out the fire in the front bedroom of the home. When her efforts failed, she called 911 to summon firefighters.

"Parr said that smoke detectors had been supplied to Whitfield, who apparently failed to maintain them," Tutor said.