Child’s lighter and aerosol fire destroys Mountain Iron home

A child’s play with a lighter and an aerosol can turned a Mountain Iron house into a total loss and displaced the family inside. One homeowner was treated for smoke inhalation after the fire tore through the home in the 5700 block of Marble Avenue, where dispatchers received the call at about 10:02 p.m. April 3.

The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office said deputies who spoke with the homeowners determined that a 10-year-old child started the fire while playing with the lighter and aerosol can. All occupants were accounted for after the blaze, but the damage was severe enough that the house was believed to be a total loss.

The response drew multiple fire departments to the Iron Range scene. Mountain Iron Fire Department led the effort with help from crews in Virginia, Fayal Township, Clinton, Kinney-Great Scott, Cherry and Pike-Sandy-Britt. The sheriff’s office handled the investigation, a role that fits with its contract law-enforcement service for Mountain Iron.

The fire is a sharp reminder of how fast a small ignition source can become a full-house loss when children can reach lighters, spray cans and other flammable items. Families often store those products in drawers, garages or kitchens, but safety experts consistently urge keeping them locked away and out of sight, along with matches, fuel and other burnable household materials.

For Mountain Iron and nearby St. Louis County communities, the incident also shows how quickly local emergency crews have to move when a home fire starts late at night. With one resident already treated for smoke inhalation and the home deemed a total loss, the outcome was a near miss for the family inside, but a costly and immediate loss all the same.