The injuries of a Coon Rapids girl whose dress started on fire should serve as a reminder to parents to keep matches, lighters and candles away from children and pets, fire department officials said Thursday.

Three-year-old Jadea Oldenburg suffered third-degree burns on more than half of her body Tuesday.

Coon Rapids Fire Chief John Piper said officials found evidence of burned matches on the floor and the department thinks the fire was accidental.

"It was either the candle or matches that caused the girl's dress to light on fire and caused these horrific burns," he said.

The girl's mother, Amber Oldenburg, told fire officials she was in the bathroom "when the daughter came running in with her dress on fire," according to the fire department's report.

She put Jadea in the bathtub and cut the burned dress off of her, the report said. By the time firefighters arrived, the girl was not crying and stood there looking at her burns, the report said.

A small candle with liquid, melted wax and another warm candle were on the kitchen table. There were matches and lighters in reach of Jadea and another young girl in the home, Piper said.

"Candles are an ongoing problem for us," he said. "We really push the message that matches and lighters should not be at a kid's level."

Hennepin County Medical Center officials would not comment on the girl's condition Thursday. When reached through a social-networking site, Amber Oldenburg wrote she did not want to comment on the incident because "this is alot to handle and it's extremely overwhelming."

LORA PABST