Boy, 13, trying to kill bed bug accidentally sets apartment complex ablaze

A teen accidentally set his apartment on fire after he tried to kill a bed bug with alcohol and a match. (Fox 19 Cincinnati)

A 13-year-old Ohio boy trying to kill a bed bug sparked an apartment building blaze that displaced eight people and caused $300,000 in damage, Cincinnati fire officials said.

The Tuesday night fire began when the teen lit a match after dousing a bed bug with alcohol. The fire then spread to six other apartments.

“This was accidental. He wasn’t in there just playing with matches,” District 3 Chief Marc Monahan told Fox 19 Cincinnati. “It wasn’t the smartest thing, obviously, but he was trying to get rid of a bed bug.”

The American Red Cross is working to find housing for three adults and five children whose apartments were damaged.

No injuries were reported.