‘We’re not OK’: 13-year-old suffers severe burns on most of body after bonfire explodes, mom says

SAGINAW, Mich. (WNEM/Gray News) - The mother of a child injured during a bonfire explosion said he has been released from the hospital but his road to recovery is far from over.

Felicia Cook spoke with WNEM Tuesday about the severe burns her son, Riley, suffered Saturday night.

“We’re just trying to remain OK even though we’re not. We’re not OK,” she said.

The 13-year-old was one of three injured at the bonfire. Cook said she was out in the yard, but did not realized he had the gas can used to start the fire.

Cook said Riley was trying to use the stick as a torch. He thought the stick had cooled off when he set the gas on top of it.

“Thirty seconds later it combusted and exploded,” Cook said. “When that happened, I was injured as well. I was part of it. It was me, my daughter, my son, and one other child that was injured.”

Cook said Riley suffered burns over 75% of his body.

“He was fully engulfed in flames. It was like something you see out of a movie. It was so petrifying, devastating,” she said.

Cook said Riley was heavily sedated, and things are touch and go.

“They told me however, that if he does get an infection anywhere in that area, or anywhere in his body, that he will not make it,” Cook said.

As bad as the burns are, Saginaw Fire Chief Brandon Hausbeck said the infection that may follow could be deadly.

“When you get a larger burn, the worse it is for you. And your body tries to recover the best that it can, but the skin protects the body from everything on the outside, bacteria, viruses, the environment,” he said. “The skin is an organ, so when we damage that organ, the body is now susceptible to infection.”

Hausbeck said officials are investigating the mishap.

A quick-thinking neighbor was credited with jumping into action to help the kids.

“He heard some commotion, came outside, brought his fire extinguisher with him. He was able to extinguish some of the fire on the ground,” Hausbeck said. “He was also able to instruct one of the juveniles, who was burned pretty significantly, to get on the ground, stop, drop, and roll.”

Cook said Riley is expected to be hospitalized for two years. She said she wants to warn anyone planning to have a bonfire to be mindful of nearby fuel.

“Please, anyone who is going to have a bonfire, please don’t let children be around any gas cans. Don’t let them touch them. Don’t let them do anything with them,” she said.

The family of the other 13-year-old boy who was injured said he is still in recovery at the hospital, with burns on his ankles, face, hands, and part of his back.

Hausbeck said residents in Saginaw need to get a burn permit if they’re planning to have a fire. He also said to make sure an adult is present, to use clean wood for burning, to make sure a water source is near the fire, and to never leave children at the fire alone.

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