Bonfire explosion injures a dozen people

Southeast Missourian

A bonfire explosion injured a dozen people Friday night during a party at 3901 Cape Girardeau County Road 621.

One girl was airlifted to St. John's Mercy Medical Center in St. Louis for treatment of second- and third-degree burns, while 11 others were treated at and released from local hospitals after a large bonfire exploded around midnight, said Lt. David James, chief of detectives with the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department.

No names were being released by the sheriff's department or area hospitals Saturday afternoon.

On Saturday, deputies were still interviewing party goers, most of whom are between the ages of 16 to 21 and from the Jackson area, to find out who either tossed or knocked a five-gallon can of gasoline onto the fire while almost 100 people were standing around it.

Before the explosion, shotgun shells and bullets were being thrown on the fire to hear them pop, James said.

About a dozen people were covered in gasoline and fire, which was extinguished by others. The injured were transported to local hospitals by private vehicles.

The bonfire went out after it exploded. No fire department was called to the scene.

The girl airlifted to St. John's hospital had second-degree burns on one leg, third-degree burns on the other and burns on her face. The girl's mother said she would need skin grafts, but was going to be OK, according to James.

"Some girls got their hair burned. They got blisters on their backs, arms and sides. They said kids were running around yelling that they were on fire. It was awful," James said.

Three people arrested in connection with having the party and supplying alcohol to minors have been released pending the issuance of a criminal summons. The person responsible for the explosion is still being sought for questioning by deputies.

jgosche@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 133