MAGNA — An 11-year-old boy who suffered second- and third-degree burns over 10 percent of his body when a gas can blew up in his hands as he tried to fuel a bonfire for roasting marshmallows remained in critical condition Thursday.
The accident happened about 9 p.m. Wednesday in the backyard of a home near 7500 West and 3700 South. A group of five boys, all about 11 years old, were making a bonfire when one of the boys tried to help by pouring gasoline on it.
"As he was pouring gasoline on the fire, it ignited the gas can, which blew up in his hands and subsequently gave him critical injuries," said Unified Police Sgt. James Blanton.
The boy suffered burns on his arms, shoulders, face and neck. A second child suffered minor injuries when he was singed by the explosion.
A neighbor who heard the commotion was the first to respond. He was able to gather three of the boys and get them away from the fire, Blaton said. The other two ran to their homes after the explosion but returned a short time later after telling their parents what had happened.
The first police officers on the scene were able to help the boy as well as douse the remaining flames so they did not spread to the house, Blanton said.
The boy was taken by ambulance to the Intermountain Burn Center at the University of Utah, as bad weather prevented a medical helicopter from flying.
Blanton said the parents who live at the house were not home at the time. It was not immediately known if the children were being supervised by an older sibling.
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