A 3-year-old child is credited with setting a deadly blaze, taking the life of a young sibling.

In Portland, Oregon, a child set fire has claimed the life of a two-year-old child, the sibling of the child who set the fire. Fire investigators said a three 3 year old child was responsible for the fire. A wooden stick match was said to be the device used to set the fire.

Child-set fires remain a largely underestimated problem in communities across North America. Nationally, children cause about 95,000 fires each year resulting in over 300 deaths, 3,000 injuries, and $300 million in property damage (source: National Fire Protection Association).

In most cases, child-set fires are a result of curiosity about matches and lighters. Much of the behavior is learned from the adults around the child. Summertime is particularly risky because of the bad examples typically seen when people light barbecues and use fireworks. The way adults perform these functions is easily learned by children of all ages who usually have a high desire to emulate adult behavior.

Two common themes exist in child-set fires for all ages. A lack of appropriate supervision and ready access to matches and/or lighters.

While it is very rare for children under the age of 5 to set fires with matches (more typically they use heat sources like stoves and heaters as well as lighters), it does occur, and often with tragic results. Over 80% of the fire deaths attributed to children as the cause kill children under the age of 6 years. This places preschool aged children who have engaged in fireplay in one of the highest risk categories known for potential injury and death.

The solutions to this problem are fairly simple and begin with vigilance on the part of parents/caregivers. Other important safety tips include: