San Diego

Two separate San Diego apartment fires Thursday were blamed on children playing with cigarette lighters, a spokeswoman for the Fire Department said.

In the 4000 block of 34th Street, firefighters contained a fire about 9 a.m. in the bedroom of a first-floor apartment, the spokeswoman said.

A 4-year-old boy ignited bedding material while playing with a lighter, she said, adding that the boy, his 5-year-old sister and his mother escaped injury.

Damage to the structure and contents was estimated at $40,000.

In a similar incident, two brothers, 2 and 3 years old, reportedly started a fire with a lighter in the back bedroom of a second-story apartment, officials said. The two boys alerted their mother, and all three escaped without injury.

Firefighters responded to the fire in the 200 block of 50th Street at 10:20 a.m., the spokeswoman said. The apartment where the fire started was damaged mostly by smoke, and the lower apartment was damaged by water, she said. Total damage was estimated at $40,000.

The Red Cross was called upon to help relocate residents of both apartments.

Children playing with matches or lighters have been responsible for four fires this week, fire officials said.