A Lakeland fire that torched a home, leaving a family of six homeless Tuesday night, was caused by children trying to get rid of ants, firefighters said.

  • Lakeland family of 6 homeless after house fire
  • Investigators: Kids had used candles to get rid of ants
  • 'Everything is gone. Everything,' father said

The single-story, wooden home on 1200 block of Sycamore Street collapsed from the fire damage.

Investigators said the children were playing with candles.

Oscar Guzman, the oldest of four, said he and his mother saw the fire and ran.

"I was screaming… trying to help myself and my family,” Oscar recalled.

He said his 12- and 6-year old brothers escaped, along with their baby sister. His dad arrived back Wednesday morning after working overnight in Miami.

"Everything is gone. Clothes, shoes papers, passports. Everything is gone. Everything,” Francisco Guzman said.

Oscar thinks his brothers started the fire. He said they tried to explain to him what happened.

"I think after I was asleep, I think my brother had ants on himself, and he grabbed a paper to wipe them off, except the paper caught on fire, and he just threw it outside,” Oscar said.

Firefighters said the boy told them he threw the paper in a pile of dry leaves. Those leaves, mixed with high winds from a looming thunderstorm Tuesday night, caused the fire to spread to the house, according to investigators.

Oscar's mother, Maria Saenz, said the two younger children involved in the fire were autistic and didn't understand what they had done, even though she had talked to them about the danger of fires.

She said she was bathing her 10-month old when it happened.

The family had been living in the home for 15 years. Being immigrants, Francisco Guzman said he was most concerned about finding a new place to live and the loss of their passports and birth certificates.

He said the family will move forward, and he’s grateful everyone made it out alive.

The Red Cross is providing assistance to the displaced family. An online fund also has been established by a relative. To help, go to their GoFundMe page.


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