PUYALLUP, Wash. -- A 22-month-old boy was left alone inside an apartment when a lit cigarette tossed in a garbage can started a fire, said police.

The 23-year-old mother could face charges for leaving her child to get fast-food, and returning to an apartment engulfed in flames.

Chopper 7 was over the massive apartment fire at the Chestnut Hill apartments in Puyallup Wednesday.

When the mother returned, she told firefighters her son was inside. Firefighters were able to rescue the boy and he was not seriously hurt.

The mother told police that the child was asleep, so she left to bring back something to eat from a local fast-food restaurant, and was gone about 15 minutes.

She told police when she came back the apartment was on fire.

A neighbor described the look on the mom's face to KIRO 7 reporter Rick Price.

"Frantic, like your child's drowning or something, yeah, any mother would notice the face on her, she looked very scared," said Windy Rasmussen.

The mother was questioned by police, but not arrested or charged with anything. Prosecutors are considering charges.

Police returned the child to the mom's custody hours after the fire started.

"We felt that this was just an oversight on her part, albeit not a good one, but we still feel that she's probably safe to go home," said Sgt. Ryan Portmann of the Puyallup police.

Child Protective Services is investigating the incident and wants to see the child and talk to the mom, however they cannot currently locate them.