BURLINGTON, IOWA (AP) -- Officials say a child playing with matches started a fire that damaged three homes in Burlington.

The fires broke out Saturday evening in one house and spread to the adjacent houses.

WQAD reported Tuesday that Burlington Fire Marshal Mark Crooks says a child went into a vacant house and started the fire while playing with matches. The child escaped and was not hurt.

The house where the fire started was engulfed in flames. One of neighboring homes sustained about $10,000 in damage, while the other had about $2,500 in damage.

Crooks says no criminal charges will be filed.

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