Santa Rosa kids playing with lighters cause fire, displacing 55

Two people died when a fire ripped through an apartment building early Monday morning in the 6200 block of Eastlawn Street in East Oakland. Two people died when a fire ripped through an apartment building early Monday morning in the 6200 block of Eastlawn Street in East Oakland. Photo: St Lowitsch / Getty Images / St Lowitsch / Getty Images Photo: St Lowitsch / Getty Images / St Lowitsch / Getty Images Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Santa Rosa kids playing with lighters cause fire, displacing 55 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

A fire that displaced more than 50 people in Santa Rosa was started by two children playing with lighters, officials said Friday.

The fire was reported at 2:42 p.m. on Aston Avenue near Hendley Street and caused extensive damage to several units in a six-unit building, fire officials said. Power was also cut to a neighboring building.

“Fire investigators interviewed two kids who had been playing with lighters and accidentally ignited a couch that eventually burned into the structure,” said Santa Rosa Fire Battalion Chief Matt Dahl.

As of Thursday night, fire officials estimated 55 people were displaced by the damage, Dahl said.

The Red Cross provided services to the displaced people and shelter for about 25 of the victims, he said.

Filipa Ioannou is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: fioannou@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @obioannoukenobi