Fire chief rescues 2 boys burned by gasoline fire

SCOTLAND, Ind. – Two boys were badly burned when gasoline exploded as it came into contact with a smoldering fire pit in the small southern Indiana community of Scotland.

Ten-year-old Nicholas Decker of Scotland and 11-year-old Joshua Merritt of Crane Village were listed in critical condition Monday in the burn unit of Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis.

Chief Randy Baker of the Richland-Taylor Volunteer Fire Department heard the explosion Saturday afternoon and was the first person on the scene. He and two other neighbors were able to extinguish the flames on the boys.

Baker said the fire would be ruled an accident. He did not know how the gasoline came into contact with the smoldering wood.

Scotland is in Greene County, about 20 miles southwest of Bloomington.