Kids burned in backyard accident
COEUR d'ALENE - Two Coeur d'Alene children were airlifted to Seattle's Harborview Medical Center on Saturday evening after a man poured gasoline onto a backyard fire pit and the gas can caught fire.
Coeur d'Alene police Sgt. Christie Wood said the 35-year-old man threw the burning gas can behind him.
"It exploded," Wood said. "The contents of the gas can and the fire engulfed two children who had been sitting on a swing."
Brooklynne White, 4, and Joshua Emerson, 8, were taken to Kootenai Health and then airlifted to Seattle.
Wood said 35 percent of the girl's body was burned and the boy sustained burns to 20 percent of his body. Both children are expected to remain at Harborview for weeks for skin grafts and other medical treatment for second- and third-degree burns, according to relatives.
The children, their families and neighbors were gathered in Emerson's backyard in the 1400 block of Norlyn Court visiting and listening to music when a friend of the Emerson family poured gas on the fire, according to Brooklynne's aunt, Errin Bourne.
Wood said the man had already poured gasoline on the fire a couple of times before the flames leapt and set fire to the 5-gallon gas can.
The man grabbed Joshua to put out the flames engulfing the young boy. The girl's father, who watched the events unfold from the family's deck next door, jumped the chain-link fence separating the two yards to rush to Brooklynne's aid.
Coeur d'Alene Police detectives interviewed the man responsible for the fire and took a report for injury to child. Wood said Kootenai County prosecutors will review the police report and determine if charges will be filed.
"It's very rare we deal with these kind of cases," Wood said. "You don't put gasoline on fire. It's common sense. You don't have gasoline near a fire."
Bourne said Brooklynne was burned on her face near her mouth and chin, as well as both legs and arms. She said she didn't have information on the extent of Joshua's injuries but said the boy remained sedated Monday morning.
• How to help
A fund has been set up to help the families of Brooklynne White and Joshua Emerson with expenses including medical costs, travel, lodging and meals. Donations are being accepted online at www.gofundme.com/aw18rc.