Child Suffers Life-Altering Burns Due to Negligent Park Safety Protocols

Case Overview

This case involves a child who was burned at a state park mobile home area when she fell into a campfire that had been improperly put out. The campsite was located on a sandy beach on a lake, and a previous group had put out their campfire by burying the hot coals in the sand. At some point, the Plaintiff fell into the buried coals while playing on the beach, seriously burning his hands and chest on the hot coals. There was no signage indicating that fires were prohibited on the sandy beach, nor were there any warnings against burying hot coals under the sand.

Questions to the Occupational Health and Safety expert and their responses

Have you worked at a state or national park as a ranger or site manager?

I have 27 years experience with the National Park Service, approximately 13 years supervising visitor services and campground operations.

Can you describe appropriate safety procedures for dumping and storage of used coals/ashes/embers?

Appropriate safety procedures and standard practices for dumping and storage of used coals/ashes/embers would include closed and secure containers provided for park visitors. Additional guidance is available by citing standard operating procedures of parks, standard operating procedures of franchise operators (e.g., KOA, Leisure Systems), National Fire Protection Association standards, and OSHA regulations.

About the expert

This expert had a 27 year career in the U.S. National Park Service. He retired in 2007 as the Chief Park Ranger at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. He began his service in 1979 and worked at Petrified Forest NP, Grand Canyon NP, Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Death Valley NP, and Carlsbad Caverns NP. He has extensive experience in parks and recreation management, including the supervision of one of the largest NPS campground systems in the nation. He continues his work in parks and recreation through instruction for the NPS at their national training center at Grand Canyon and as the director of a AZ university's park ranger training program. He is a member of the National Recreation and Park Association and of the Arizona Parks and Recreation Association.

E-049033

Specialties:

Occupational Health and Safety