A fire that crews battled at a vacant Rock Island house was started by kids, police say.
Deputy Chief Jason Foy with the Rock Island Police said that the fire was started by two kids under the age of 13.
“[The] investigation determined they had been in the house and started the fire with a lighter,” Foy said.
A spokesperson from the Rock Island Fire Department said that the house had heavy fire in the front half of the first floor, and moderate fire on the second floor. Crews worked quickly to prevent the fire from spreading to a neighboring home.
Two firefighters were injured while putting out the fire. One suffered a lip burn from a flying ember and another sustained a muscle injury during the evacuation of the house.
Police had a portion of 11th Street closed to traffic as they battled the blaze early Wednesday evening.