Gas Can Explosion - 11/17/00

At 14:07 today, Units from the James City County Fire Department report of a gas can explosion with a burn patient at 8810 Pocahontas Trail in the Grove Community of James City County.  This address is for the Heritage Trailer Park.  James City Central Dispatch had received information from a caller reporting that some children were playing with a gas can, and there had been an explosion at that location with no further information available.  Responding units asked that the Nightingale Air Ambulance Helicopter be placed on standby in Norfolk, as many burn patients are transported to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital.

Upon arrival, it was determined that one child had flash burns to the hand.  Treatment for the minor burns was refused.  A James City County Fire Marshal responded to investigate the incident.  It has been determined that a male juvenile, age 13, had approached two females aged 8 and 9, asking them if they wanted to see something “cool”.  He then took the children to an area adjacent to the playground and placed a lighter next to the exit port on the plastic gas can.  When they boy ignited the lighter, there was a loud explosion that rocked the neighborhood.  No one received any injuries other than the one juvenile mentioned earlier.  Nightingale was taken off standby.  The investigation is continuing at this point.