Children Caused Deadly Arlington Apartment Fire

Fire investigators said Thursday that children playing with a lighter caused a deadly fire at an Arlington apartment complex.

Erica Joyner, 11, and Kim Moore, 29, were killed in Saturday's fire at the Tanglewood Apartments on Abram Road near the General Motors Arlington Assembly Plant.

Arlington Fire-Rescue said children burning paper in the apartment complex's breezeway started the fire. The fire got out of control, and the children did not tell anyone about it, investigators said.

Fire investigators said there was a "substantial amount of time" before the fire was reported, allowing the blaze to grow before crews arrive.

The children are younger than 10 and will not face criminal charges. They will be referred to Child Protective Services.

A 34-year-old man was critically burned in the fire, and a 48-year-old woman sustained minor burns.

The fire destroyed 20 apartments and caused $370,000 worth of damage.

NBC DFW's Kimberly King contributed to this report.

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