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Police: 4 Boys Started Vacant House Fire

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Pittsburgh police say four boys were responsible for a vacant house fire.

The three oldest boys, ages 11 and 10, face charges of arson and risking a catastrophe. They have been sent to the Shuman Detention Center.

A 9-year-old boy will be enrolled in a special fire-starters program, rather than be charged.

Pittsburgh Police Arson Detective John Gilky told KDKA-TV the boys were playing on the porch. One of them threw a lighter on a mattress inside the house.

They continued playing and thought fire was out, but when it started smoking, they fled.

A neighbor said she smelled smoke when she came home from work, called 911 and saw the boys running away.

No one hurt in fire.

Battalion Chief David Smiley says the fire was fully involved when they got the scene. His crews kept the flames from spreading to adjacent homes.

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