Beijing, Feb 6 (IANS): At least 17 people were killed and four injured in a fire in a warehouse in China's Guandong province, a tragedy attributed to a kid playing with fire.

Five people were rescued from the warehouse building and nine people have been detained over the incident which occurred Thursday afternoon, Xinhua news agency reported citing government authorities.

The fire broke out at about 1.51 p.m. Thursday in a warehouse on the fourth floor of a small wholesale market in Huidong County. The fire was under control by 7.35 p.m. the same day, the county government said in a statement.

The fire, which was controlled by evening, had erupted on the fourth floor of the warehouse, located in a wholesale market in Huidong county. The four injured were firefighters of whom two were in serious condition, the authorities added.

Police discovered that the fire was started by a nine-year-old boy surnamed Luo who was playing with a lighter that set fire to inventory on the fourth floor of the market at 1.47 p.m.. It quickly spread to the whole floor.

The boy was taken back to the police station for further questioning.