Campfire explosion an act of vandalism, family member says

Aunt of badly burned 7-year-old suggests propane tank purposely buried in fire pit

A seven-year-old boy with burns to half his body may have been the victim of a deliberate act of vandalism, according to an aunt who says a propane canister was buried in a fire pit that exploded with devastating results Saturday evening.

Andrea Persaud said her nephew was airlifted to CHEO, where he remains with serious burns to 50 per cent of his body.

“We have found out someone had buried a small propane tank in the fire pit and police are investigating,” Persaud said in a GoFundMe post. “This is a very traumatic experience not only for my nephew and my niece, who also suffers burns on her thighs and legs, but for the whole family.”

The Lanark County OPP detachment would not confirm Tuesday whether investigators are examining the possibility that a propane tank was deliberately buried in the fire pit at Tay River Tent and Trailer Park, near Perth. The incident was reported to police “as the explosion of a buried propane cylinder at a campfire.”

“The investigation is ongoing,” a spokeswoman said Tuesday.

Persaud’s GoFundMe page has raised more than $17,000 for her stricken relatives in less than 24 hours. She said the money will help cover medical and rehabilitation costs for her nephew, and lost wages for the family.

“My sister is self-employed and during this time will most likely not be able to work,” Persaud said. “Any amount donated will help my sister and her family cover those costs and be able to focus on caring for her son and healing from such a traumatic experience.”

Three people were injured in the campfire explosion that brought police, firefighters and paramedics racing to the scene, just east of Christie Lake, at 10:30 p.m. Saturday. The two other burn victims were treated and released from hospital.

Hans Gretener, co-owner of the Tay River Trent and Trailer Park, said Tuesday that he has advised all of the campers in the park to check their fire pits for buried propane canisters.

“We told everyone to check their fire pits,” said Gretener, who has owned and operated the trailer park with his wife for 23 years.

Police have fingerprinted what remained of the exploded canister, he said, adding that it’s possible that the canister had been buried undiscovered in the fire pit for years. He said the canister was a small, green tank, the kind that normally provides fuel for a camp stove.

“Basically, it’s still under investigation, and we know nothing,” Gretener said. “All we know is that a tank exploded.”

Gretener said the family injured by the propane explosion has for many years rented a seasonal trailer site at the park. Most seasonal campers, he added, barbecue using large propane tanks, not small propane canisters.

On her Facebook page, Persaud said the family remains “in complete shock.” “I still can’t believe that this actually happened even after speaking to my sister my mother, and even seeing the pictures,” she said.

Basically, it’s still under investigation, and we know nothing. All we know is that a tank exploded.