Boy Burned Playing With Gas

A 5-year-old boy was suffered first and second degree burns Wednesday after his clothes went up in flames while he was playing with gasoline and matches.

The boy’s mother called the fire department from her home at 6:22 p.m., said Battalion Chief Joe Stapleton.

When fire fighters pulled up to the house at 5018 N. Regal, the woman ran outside carrying the boy. She reported that her son and a 9-year-old boy who lives in the neighborhood had been playing with matches and a gallon of gasoline in the backyard.

When the highly flammable fluid splashed on the boy and his clothes ignited, the mother extinguished the flames by submerging the boy in cold water.

He was taken to Holy Family Hospital. The boy’s name and his condition were not released late Wednesday. The 9-year-old was not injured.