13-YEAR-OLD GIRL BURNED IN HOME FIRE.

Byline: Laurence Darmiento Daily News Staff Writer

A 13-year-old girl remained hospitalized Saturday after she was burned in a fire at her Newhall home, authorities said.

The girl, who has not been identified, was playing with matches in her garage shortly after 8 p.m. Friday when she tossed some in a metal trash can, said Lt. Larry Gump of the Santa Clarita Valley sheriff's station.

``The can just flashed and exploded,'' he said. ``It had some paint inside.''

The girl suffered second-degree burns on her face, arms, hands and feet, while the small explosion started a fire that gutted the garage, causing $20,000 in damage, officials said.

The fire destroyed a motorcycle in the garage and spread briefly into the house on the 23300 block of Eighth Street before being extinguished by Los Angeles County firefighters, officials said.

The girl was taken to Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital, where she was treated and transferred to another facility. A hospital nurse refused to release any other information, citing a request by the family.

Although the fire apparently was accidental, it is being investigated by sheriff's arson detectives. As a result, the girl's identity is not being released, Gump said.