Riva Kids On Fire Jump Into Pool To Douse Flames

RIVA, MD — Two adolescents who accidentally lit themselves on fire prevented life-threatening injuries by jumping into a nearby pool to put out the flames, authorities say. Both youths are in the hospital with first-degree burns suffered Thursday night as they fueled a tiki light, according to the Anne Arundel County Fire Department.

Firefighters were called to the 1000 block of Sugar Maple Drive around 9:20 p.m. Witnesses told firefighters that a 14-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl were refueling a tiki light with kerosene when the fluid ignited. Both youths jumped into a nearby pool to put out the flames.

The boy suffered first-degree burns to his face, chest, and legs and the girl suffered first-degree burns to an arm, the fire department incident report says. Paramedics requested a Maryland State Police medevac helicopter, which landed near the scene. Both patients were flown to the Children’s Center at John Hopkins Hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening.

»Patch file photo