LYNDON, Vt. (AP) – The tenants of a four-unit apartment building are homeless after a fire destroyed the building.

Firefighters from four towns battled the Main Street fire, which apparently was caused by a child playing with a lighter. No one was injured.

Lyndonville firefighters had just arrived in Powers Park for their annual department picnic when the call came in around 12:15 p.m. The fire spread quickly, and thick heavy smoke was pouring from the upper-story windows within minutes of the call.

Ladder trucks from Lyndonville and St. Johnsbury took crews above the blaze, where they poured water down on the flames breaking through the roof. Firefighters also poured water on two propane tanks at the rear of the building. In addition to Lyndonville and St. Johnsbury, the East Burke Fire Brigade had trucks and crew at the scene. Lyndon Rescue came with an ambulance. The Sheffield-Wheelock fire department provided station coverage for Lyndonville.

The fire appeared to be under control within an hour. Timothy Allard, a Lyndonville firefighter, said about 10 firefighters arrived at the picnic early, and their presence across from the fire station and a block from the fire may have helped bring the fire under control quickly.