Tampa Fire Rescue units were called out to a fire at 1582 Nuccio Parkway at 8:57 p. m. Tuesday night.

When units arrived, they found smoke and flames coming from a ground floor apartment at the Tampa Park Apartments complex.

TFR spokesperson, Debra Warshefski, said the apartment was the home of Melaina Hall, (pictured), 23, and her two children.

“Ms. Hall had to go to a store, and asked an adult friend of hers to watch the children. The adult friend also brought a child over.

“At some point, the three children were in a rear bedroom playing, when one of them set the mattress on fire. The frightened children ran from the rear bedroom, at which time the detectors went off, and the adult smelled the smoke.”

The adult and the three children were able to escape without injury, and Hall returned minutes later shocked at what she saw, but relieved no one was hurt.

Fire officials said the apartment sustained $10,000 in damage, and firefighters were successful in containing the fire to the one apartment.

Officials at the complex said Hall and her two children moved into their apartment in June 2012.

The 6-year-old who started the fire has been referred to the Firestarters Program, and was identified as Hall’s daughter, Jaiela.

TFR is not conducting a investigation at this time, and Tampa Police said they were at the scene for safety purposes only, and also don’t intend to initiate an investigation.

Ms. Hall said her first concern was for the safety of her children.

“When I came back from the store, I was just in a state of shock. A friend stopped by to visit with her child, and I just stepped out for a few minutes to go to the store. Thank God the smoke detectors were working.”

Ms. Hall said she talks to her daughters, Jaiela, and Jada, 4, all the time about fires, and they hear it at school as well.

“They know they shouldn’t even have a lighter in the first place.

“After the fire, I stood outside my apartment most of the night waiting for someone from Red Cross to come, but they never arrived.”

Ms. Hall said they lost everything in the fire, and she didn’t have any insurance.

“I do have some family members around, but they have children of their own, so we definitely need our own place.

“I talked to the people at the complex, and I was told I would have to cover the damage to the apartment before I could move back. I don’t have that kind of money, so I guess we will just have to start over.”