Boys badly burned while playing

Two boys were critically burned Saturday afternoon in an unusual accident in north Spokane that fire investigators were struggling to explain.

The children, about 4 years old, were playing in a neighbor’s back yard at 7515 N. Napa Court about 3:30 p.m. when they were burned on or near a plastic slide, said Spokane Fire Battalion Chief Mike Inman.

Both victims were taken to Sacred Heart Medical Center and soon flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. They were listed in critical condition Saturday evening, Inman said.

One of the boys, Brian Ashmore, lives at 7518 N. Napa Court, next door to where the incident occurred. The other boy, who was not identified, was visiting Brian, Inman said.

Inman said one boy has burns on about 75 percent of his body; the other was burned on more than half. Their injuries occurred below their shoulders.

“All the prayers that anyone can send to heaven would be very much appreciated,” said Ashmore’s grandmother, Shannon Ward, who lives with Brian and his mother.

The fire was fueled by gasoline, but it was unclear how the gas got on the boys before the fire or how it ignited, Inman said. There didn’t appear to be gas on the slide.

The lawn recently had been mowed, and a gas can was near the play equipment.

There was no evidence that the children were playing with matches, Inman said. Investigators are considering the possibility that static electricity somehow started the fire.

“There isn’t really anything else it could have been that we could see,” Inman said. “You’d never think anything like this would happen.”

Adults were home at the address where the children were.

After the fire started, one of the victims ran next door to seek help from Ward. She received minor burns on her hands, apparently when she tried to extinguish flames, Inman said.

Chuck Rinck, who lives nearby, said he heard Ward yell for help and ran to the scene and found one of the boys still on fire.

“I took my shirt off and got the fire out,” Rinck said.

With the help of another person who rushed to scene, Rinck said he also got some of the boy’s clothes off and administered other aid.

“I’ve never seen somebody burned that bad,” Rinck said, trying to hold back tears.

Eric Roth, another neighbor, said that while Rinck was working with one boy, Ward sprayed the other with a hose.

The fire remains under investigation.

Inman cautions adults to properly store flammables.

“Keep track of where your gasoline is,” Inman said. “It’s a flammable substance. Especially with children around, it can be a danger if they start playing in it.”