Boy burnt in house fire

A 15-YEAR-OLD boy suffered burns to more than a third of his body after a suspicious house fire in Doveton yesterday (Wednesday) morning.
CFA crews were called to the vacant Paperbark Street house shortly after midnight and quickly brought the fire under control.
The single-storey weatherboard home, which is for sale, suffered extensive damage.
Intensive care paramedic Mariah Deacon said the teenager’s friends had to put out the flames after the boy was apparently set alight, in an incident involving petrol.
Ms Deacon said the boy ran while he was on fire, struck his head on the garage then fell to the ground.
“His friend told us he smothered the flames using his T-shirt and the 15-year-old then got into the shower and wrapped himself in wet towels to cool the burns.”
According to paramedics, the boy has burns to his face and neck, arms and legs and bruising and swelling above his eye from hitting his head on the garage.
“He was in significant pain and was quite upset. We had to calm him down so we could treat him,” Ms Deacon said.
“The boy was given pain relief through a nasal spray and some other pain relief through a drip in his arm. Dressings were applied to the burns, which helped ease the pain.”
The boy was taken to The Alfred hospital in a serious condition.
Casey Crime Investigation Unit detectives arrested a 15-year-old about 2.30am.
The boy is expected to be charged with criminal damage by fire.
Police said they were also going to speak to a second 15-year-old boy at a later date.
Anyone with information about the fire is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.