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Investigators: Child playing with lighter caused apartment fire

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Investigators say a fire that damaged an apartment complex Tuesday afternoon was caused by a 7-year-old playing with a lighter.

The fire happened at the Paradise East Apartments on Bouldercrest Road. Investigators told Channel 2's Erica Byfield a child lit a sofa on fire.

About eight units were damaged. Six people, including three kids, were treated for smoke inhalation. A pregnant woman and her boyfriend said they jumped from a window to escape the flames.

"He was able to get out the building and stand on the ground while the mom lowered the children to him from the second floor," DeKalb County Fire Deputy Chief Norman Augustin said.

An elderly woman said neighbors pulled her to safety.

"They woke me up and pulled me through the window," Ada Sanders told Byfield.

She was cut by broken glass but thanked her neighbors for risking their lives.

The child who caused the fire will be sent to attend a DeKalb fire-setters program.