8-Year-Old Boy Badly Burned While Playing with Fire

STONE MOUNTAIN, Ga. - Gwinnett County firefighters say an 8-year-old boy was badly burned over much of his body while playing with fire earlier this month.

Investigators say it happened on the evening of Monday, June 7 on Roe Hampton Lane in Stone Mountain. Firefighters arrived at the scene to find the boy, who had significant, life-threatening burns over much of his body. The boy was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital, and was later transferred to an out-of-state burn center for treatment.

Fire investigators say the boy was burned while he and another boy were playing with gasoline and a grill lighter. According to the second boy, the two poured gasoline on a toy airplane and lit it with the lighter while playing in a wooded area near one of the boys’ homes. The second boy was not hurt.

Investigators say they haven’t yet spoken to the 8-year-old victim because he is still being treated for his injuries.

So far, fire investigators believe the situation was accidental. They believe the fumes from the gasoline caused a flash fire that burned the child.