Group of teenagers left disfigured after boy throws 55-gallon fuel drum on beach bonfire
Warning: This article contains graphic images and video which some readers may find distressing.
A child has been arrested after he is alleged to have thrown a barrel of fuel on a bonfire at an Alaskan beach party over the weekend.
The horrific incident led to the disfigurement of eight teenagers, including 16-year-old Mia Camacho, who decided to stick around at the party a little bit longer, having initially thought about leaving.
The 55-gallon diesel container exploded at around 1am on Sunday (November 10).
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Of all the burn victims, five of them were flown from White Sands Beach, where the party took place on Alaska's largest island of Kodiak.
It is understood the other three didn't sustain as serious a smolder.
Tragically, Mia was one of the more seriously injured victims, and is currently receiving treatment for second-degree burns to her face, arms, hands, and legs.
Her mom Cynthia Vazquez has set up a GoFundMe page to support her, explaining how her daughter's world has changed.
It read: "It has been a crazy less than 24 hours, when I got the terrifying call a parent should not get. My Mia went to a bonfire with some friends and was sitting around the fire with her friend.
"She was about to leave but stayed a little longer, that little longer would change her world in a split of a second for many teens in Kodiak.
"A boy decided to throw a diesel 55 gallon container into the fire causing an explosion and as a result my Mia got second degree burns all of her face, arms, hands and legs."
It continued: "It will be a long recovery road ahead of her and us. One day at time seems long right now however she had to get flown to Anchorage for further treatment we will be here no less than 3 weeks.
"I am asking for any monetary donations much appreciated. Sorry if I can’t answer your calls or text right away it has been really rough."
Department of Public Safety Communications Director Austin McDaniel told Alaska News Source that eight people have received care in hospital, while a further five were medevacked to Anchorage, mainland Alaska.
Speaking about the boy who is understood to have thrown the large fuel container on the bonfire, he said: “He’s been remanded to a division of juvenile justice custody at this point.
"We are still actively investigating this, and again, encourage anybody that was at the party, or anyone that has first hand information that hasn’t spoken with the state troopers to consider reaching out to the Alaska State Troopers to give us more information so we can help conclude our investigation.”
Police have estimated there were about 20 to 40 teens in attendance at the time of the incident, including 15-year-old Kavik Wolfe - who, like Mia, has a GoFundMe page set up for his recovery, and remains in hospital with his grandmother Xochitl Morris and younger sister Danica Wolfe by his side.
He has sustained third-degree burns to his hands and second-degree to his face and body
Morris told the new outlet of her grandson: "The pain has been so strong, and he’s traumatized completely."
Joe Yates