PHOENIX - Two kids -- a 12-year-old girl and a 7-year-old boy -- are in the hospital after they were burned while apparently trying to light some aerosol cans on fire.
Firefighters were called to a home near 83rd Avenue and Lower Buckeye at about 8:00 Monday night.
According to officials, a total of four kids were in the backyard and had a bonfire going.
An adult who was with the kids allegedly was trying to show them how to make aerosol cans spray fire. Police have identified that person as Cody Hutchens.
"What happened is one of the kids, the 7-year-old, decided his can wasn't working so he threw it into the bonfire, which caused the can to explode because the can is under pressure," explained Capt. Dorian Jackson of the Phoenix Fire Department. "That's what caused these kids to get burned."
When police arrived on the scene, they found several larges scorch marks and noticed an overwhelming chemical odor. They also discovered half a dozen spray paint cans.
While both kids suffered first- and second-degree burns, they are expected to recover. A 4-year-old girl was also hurt in the incident. An 8-year-old boy who was in the backyard with the others was not injured.
Police have arrested Hutchens, 32, who is now facing a variety of charges including endangerment, child abuse, aggravated assault and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Police say Hutchens was impaired when he was arrested.
Two of the children involved in the incident are his. The other two are neighbors.
