A boy accidentally set his Oak Harbor house on fire while playing with matches Oct. 3.

The Friday morning blaze caused an estimated $50,000 in damage to the home, but nobody was hurt, according to Battalion Chief Ray Merrill with the Oak Harbor Fire Department.

Merrill said the 11-year-old boy was lighting matches in the hallway of the rambler house on SW Sixth Avenue when he unintentionally started the fire. He left the house after the fire alarm went off.

Just before 11 a.m., a passerby saw smoke coming from the house and called 911. The Oak Harbor Fire Department and North Whidbey Fire and Rescue responded.

Merrill said it only took about five minutes to get the small conflagration under control. It caused very little structure damage, but a considerable amount of heat damage throughout the house.

“It’s very rebuildable,” Merrill said.

Merrill said the Red Cross and Navy are helping the family, who were renters. Fortunately, they had renter’s insurance.