Gaffney firefighters pack up their gear after battling a sunday afternoon blaze at connecticut Village apartments that destroyed three bedrooms. Two adults and three children were displaced by a Sunday afternoon fire at Connecticut Village Apartments which the Cherokee County Fire Investigation Team determined was sparked by a child playing with a cigarette lighter.

The blaze broke out at about 12:45 p.m. Sunday and firefighters found a working fire upon their arrival.

“Damage was confined to the second floor, but smoke, heat and fire completely ruined everything in the three bedrooms on the second floor,” Gaffney Fire Chief Nathan Ellis said.

Damage was deemed severe, though no adjoining apartments were impacted.

The cause of the fire was determined following an investigation.

Ellis said firefighters encourage parents to keep a close eye on their lighters and matches and keep them out of the reach of children.

“The family was lucky in this case,” he said. “It was daytime and everybody was awake and able to get out of the house.”

Because one of the Gaffney fire stations was busy with a shooting incident on Interstate 85, the DMW and Corinth volunteer fire departments responded to assist at the fire scene.

The Red Cross was called to offer assistance to the displaced family.