Five Burned When Flammable Liquid Ignites At Georgia Bonfire

ABBEVILLE, Ga. (AP) -- Five people, including two young children, were burned over the weekend, when a plastic bottle containing diesel fuel exploded while they were gathered around a bonfire, officials said.

The victims, all with first- and second-degree burns, were rushed to the Joseph M. Still Burn Center in Augusta, where the three adults were listed in serious condition Monday and the two children were critical, spokeswoman Beth Frits said.

Sheriff Stacy Bloodsworth said Greg Keene, 38, was hosting a party for a family at his Abbeville farm Saturday evening when they piled up wood for a bonfire and started a small fire.

``They set a plastic container with a small amount of diesel fuel on top of the wood, thinking it would melt and saturate the wood. But it exploded,'' Bloodsworth said.

In addition to Keene, the burn victims were identified as Jason and Kim Smith and their two children, Jason Jr., 5, and Kelsie, 3, of nearby Rochelle.

``Greg is real compassionate and has a real big heart,'' said the sheriff. ``He loves children and he's beating himself up pretty bad. It was just a freak accident.''

Georgia Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine, who is also the state safety fire commissioner, said many Georgians are burned each year trying to ignite outdoor fires with gasoline or diesel fuel.

``It's common for people to use gasoline or diesel to get outdoor fires going, but it's extremely dangerous,'' he said. ``Diesel is extremely flammable. We see diesel used quite often in arson fires.''

Oxendine said gasoline or diesel fuel can ignite ``like a bomb'' under the right conditions and should not be used improperly.

``Fire is a tool,'' he said. ``Fire is not to be entertainment. You don't play with a hammer and a saw, and you don't play with fire.''