PUYALLUP - The mother of a toddler left alone inside a burning apartment on Wednesday may have started the fire with a discarded cigarette, officials said.

And now the Pierce County Prosecutor's Office is trying to decide whether to file child abandonment charges against the mother, who has never been in trouble before and whose husband is serving in Iraq.

Fire crews broke down the door of the burning apartment Wednesday afternoon and were surprised to find the 22-month-old toddler was in his crib surrounded by flames with no adults in sight.

The little boy was trapped and screaming for help as firefighters scooped him up just before the flames reached him.

Police later said the boy's mother rushed up to the building as firefighters were going in.

"The mother indicated that she had left the apartment somewhere between 4 and 4:15 and went to Arby's to get dinner for herself and the child," said Sgt. Ryan Portman, Puyallup Police Department.

Witnesses say the 23-year-old woman was panicked.

"She looked very scared like a mother, looked very concerned, and after I saw the baby come out that kind of explained why she looked like that," said Windy Rasmussen.

The mother told police her little boy was asleep and she only planned to be gone for a few minutes.

But Rasmussen and other neighbors said they feel the mother's actions were irresponsible.

"As a mom I wouldn't do that. I don't know a lot of people that would," Rasmussen said.

Neighbors got another shock when they found out what started the fire. Investigators believe it was a cigarette tossed in a trash can on the deck of the mom's apartment.

"I really wish that it would have been something that just happened by accident like electrical, something that's more excusable, I guess," said Becky Ward.

When all the evidence is in, the Pierce County Prosecutor will decide if child abandonment charges will be filed.

Portman said a conviction could lead to jail time for the mom.

For the time being, the child is back with the mother, since she has no previous history with Child Protective Services.