Fowler rallying around boy injured in gas explosion
FOWLER, Calif. (KFSN) -- New information about a 14-year-old boy injured in a gas explosion in Fowler Wednesday night.
The Fowler Volunteer Fire Department says a 14-year-old boy was attempting to turn off the gas to an outdoor stove - when it ignited - causing an explosion so intense, it shattered several glass windows, and melted his clothes onto his body.
Fowler Volunteer Fire Chief Manuel Lopez said, "He did receive some burns, I don't know the extent of the burns, but the patient was transported to CRMC, got him there very fast."
Officials at Fowler Unified School District tell us the boy is an 8th grader at Sutter Middle School, where he's currently gearing up for the end of the school year. We're told the principal paid him a personal visit in the hospital Thursday morning, and was told, while the burns are always serious, the boy's injuries are not as severe as originally thought.
Back on campus, school counselors reached out to the student's closest friends, and were on hand to answer any questions or concerns some of the others might have.
In the meantime, the fire department is reminding everyone to be careful while working with gas stoves or barbeque pits, especially as we head into the summer months.
"Lot of people get in a hurry of turning it on and leaving," said Lopez. "We got to make sure everything is off. Got to make sure you hear that click to turn it off, because a little bit of gas, it doesn't take much to ignite and have an explosion."
ABC30 reached out to the boy's family. They were at the hospital at the time, but his father said he was awake and asking about his friends.
The school is making arrangements to assist the family in any way they can.
