HUIZHOU, Guangdong, Feb. 6 -- A warehouse fire that killed 17 people in south China's Guangdong Province was started by a 9-year-old boy playing with fire in the warehouse, local police department said on Friday.

The fire broke out at about 1:51 p.m. on Thursday in a warehouse on the fourth floor of a small wholesale market in Huidong County. The fire was under control by 7:35 p.m. the same day, the county government said in a statement.

Police discovered the fire was started by a boy surnamed Luo who was playing with a lighter set fire to inventory on the fourth floor of the market at 1:47 p.m.. It quickly spread to the whole floor.

The boy was taken back to the police station for further questioning.

Fire fighters rescued five people from the fire, but four fire fighters were injured during the rescue operation, including one who remains in serious condition.