Fire set by 3-year-old destroys Long Beach house

LONG BEACH -- A 3-year-old accidentally started a fire that destroyed a home on Bosarge Road on Wednesday afternoon.

Harrison County Fire Chief Pat Sullivan said the child was playing with a lighter.

Firefighters arrived about 12:15 p.m., after the boy's father discovered and reported it.

The father managed to retrieve the child and escape the burning home without injury, Sullivan said.

Fire units from Long Beach, Gulfport's Combat Readiness Training Center and Harrison County Fire Services along with American Medical Response EMT units responded.

The blaze was brought under control within 40 minutes, but it took about two hours before crews could leave the scene.

Sullivan said the American Red Cross has been called in to assist the family.

This story was originally published January 6, 2016 at 6:42 PM with the headline "Fire set by 3-year-old destroys Long Beach house ."