Two children were airlifted to a regional burn center after suffering severe burns in an outdoor fire accident Saturday, June 27, at an Oceanside home, fire officials said.
The incident occurred about 6:25 p.m. during a backyard gathering at a home in the area of 500 N. The Strand, where several children were roasting marshmallows with a small tabletop fireplace, according to an Oceanside Fire Department report.
The device produced a sudden flare-up that set the children’s clothing on fire, officials stated. Parents and other adults extinguished the flames and poured water on the injured children before emergency crews arrived.
Oceanside firefighters, lifeguards and police officers responded, with Reach Air and Mercy Air also assisting.
The two children were flown to a burn center for specialized treatment, the Fire Department reported. One child’s father suffered minor burns and was taken by ambulance to the same facility, where he was reunited with his family.
Preliminary information indicated that rubbing alcohol was used as fuel in the tabletop fire device, the department stated.
Fire officials warned that tabletop fire devices fueled by rubbing alcohol and other flammable liquids can create sudden flash fires when alcohol vapors ignite, posing particular risks to children.
No structures were damaged, according to the department.
This report was partially written using artificial intelligence, then updated, edited and fact-checked against source material by North Coast Current staff. View our AI policy on the About Us page, and read more in a column by our publisher.
