OXNARD : Firefighter Hurt Battling Blaze

A firefighter suffered second- and third-degree burns on his hands, face and neck in a house fire started by a 2-year-old boy playing with a cigarette lighter, authorities said.

Oxnard Firefighter Tiloi Tuitama was injured on his face and neck when his breathing mask slipped to the side, and his hands were burned by steam seeping through his gloves, Battalion Chief Henry Lenhart said.

Tuitama, who is expected to be off duty for two weeks with pay, was treated and released from St. John’s Regional Medical Center, Lenhart said.

The Wednesday fire caused $30,000 damage to the one-story house at 666 E. Yucca St., which is valued at $160,000 to $190,000, and destroyed the contents, which were valued at $20,000, Lenhart said.

The boy and another child, along with their mother, Maria Collins, and a friend were in the house when the fire started but were unharmed, Lenhart said. Collins rented the residence from Judith Reddin of Camarillo, he said. It was the third fire in two days sparked by children in the county playing with matches.