A 12-year-old boy is in serious condition after a gasoline flash fire Friday evening in Topsham.
Topsham police were called to a residence on Coot Lane around 5:30 p.m., according to a news release from the Maine Department of Public Safety. Police found the boy on the front porch suffering from extensive burns.
The boy and another child were attempting to start a fire in a fire pit using gasoline as an accelerant, investigators found. The can ignited in a flash fire, spilling gas onto the 12-year-old and burning him.
The victim was first taken to Maine Medical Center in Portland before being transferred to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston for specialized care. A second juvenile present during the incident was treated for smoke inhalation and released.
The Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the fire. In a news release, the office emphasized the extreme danger of using liquid accelerants to ignite fires.
Correction: This incident occured on Coot Lane in Topsham. Police initially provided incorrect information.