Boy's magnifying glass play blamed for Indiana fire

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MARION — Investigators in central Indiana say a 12-year-old boy playing with a magnifying glass started a fire that destroyed a garage packed with a family's belongings.

Marion fire investigator Geoff Williams says the boy was burning paper, cardboard and fabric he found in the trash can when the blaze started Thursday evening. Williams tells the Chronicle-Tribune that the boy was careless and the fire spread because of dry grass.

No injuries were reported, but the fire burned a vehicle and its heat damaged three nearby houses and another garage in the city midway between Indianapolis and Fort Wayne.

Marilyn Huston says her family had moved from a larger house and had belongings such as her wedding dress, furniture and collectibles stored in the garage.