NAMPA — Nampa fire investigators say two boys started a blaze that gutted a north Nampa home on Friday afternoon.

Deputy Fire Chief Doug Strosnider said Saturday that the two juveniles were playing with a lighter of the type that is normally used to light gas barbecues. Users pull a trigger and a flame is emitted about 4 to 6 inches down a tube.

Three people — a father and the two boys — were in the home at the time of the explosion, but no one was injured.

Although witnesses reported hearing explosions, fire personnel determined that the blast noises came after the initial blaze spread through the home’s garage.

“We believe the explosions were caused by the tires exploding on the vehicle in the garage; there were no indications of any other causes of those reported,” Strosnider said.

The fire broke out at a home in the Kennsington Subdivision near Cherry Lane and Idaho Center Boulevard in the northeast part of the city.

The fire destroyed the garage and a Dodge Durango parked inside, then spread into the attic above the living space on the two-story home, officials said. When fire crews arrived, the garage was fully engulfed and the fire was spreading into the living area.

Crews from the Nampa and Meridian fire departments responded, searched the residence and determined no one was in the house. They then focused on protecting the living area of the home and neighboring homes.

Strosnider said that because of efforts by responding firefighters, the home can be salvaged.

“The roof trusses and roofing materials over the living area will need to be replaced and the remaining garage will be torn down and replaced,” he said. “Fire crews were able to salvage almost all of the personal belongings of the family that were in the house.”

The deputy chief warned that children as young as 3 years have the ability to operate lighters and reminded parents and caregivers that lighters and matches are tools that require safekeeping and should be kept in locked or secured areas away from and out of reach of children.

“We had a another fire this afternoon started by an 8-year-old playing with fire,” he said. “Parents need to be diligent about educating their children on the dangers of fire. Fire Prevention week is just a week away and we need the community to get involved in the safety of our children.”