Girl catches fire in hospital room: 'I woke up to fire'
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PORTLAND, Ore. – A just 11 years old, Ireland Lane has spent plenty of time in a hospital room. She had already survived cancer and was back in the hospital to treat a head injury when bad luck struck again earlier this month.
Ireland was cleaning up with hand sanitizer in her hospital room at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital on February 2 when she suddenly caught fire.
Her father, Steve Lane, was napping in the room when he woke up to his daughter saying she was burning.
“I told the nurses I’d take a nap because I was up with her all night. I woke up to fire.” Steve said. “All I saw was the back end of her going out the door and I was right behind her. Nurses had her down, trying to put her out. One yelled ‘put a fire blanket over her.’ I laid across her back and put the fire out.”
Steve said he ripped off a rubber decal on his daughter’s shirt that was melting as the nurses rushed to treat her. She suffered burns from her neck down to her stomach and also on her arms.
The fire marshal is still investigating how the fire started. It’s possible the hand sanitizer, which is flammable, played a role, although fires with sanitizer are incredibly rare.
“They couldn’t find any sources,” Steve said. “No machinery, I’ve never smoked, no lighters, matches, nothing that would cause fire.”
Steve said his daughter just recently learned about static electricity and at one point was goofing around with the sheets watching the sparks when she touched something.
"I've been in medicine going back 30 years now and never heard anything like this. And hopefully I never will again," Dr. Stacy Nicholson, Assistant Chief at Doernbecher Children's Hospital, said on Sunday evening.
Ireland had been cleaning up after an art project when the fire started. It was the day she was supposed to be discharged and she was making a box as a thank you gift for her nurses. She used the hand sanitizer to clean the table.
She frequently used hand sanitizer ever since being diagnosed with cancer. Her cancer is currently in remission.
Ireland has had one skin graft since suffering the burns. She will have a second on her 12th birthday this coming Thursday. She’ll likely have scars, but otherwise is expected to make a full recovery from the burns.
Her father praised the hospital staff for their quick reaction. He said despite everything that has happened to her, Ireland remains upbeat.
“She’s still happy – a kid smiling and playing,” Steve said. “She takes everything so well.”
Hand sanitizer was used to burn Woodburn High School. Glad she is ok. If she did do something to 'help along' this incident, I hope she fesses up. Boredom can be devastating to people who are not taught to deal with it.
Richard Prior said " when your on fire, people get out of your way".
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@Dr. RawdogStatic electricity... (implied in the article) in the end nobody was sure I guess... Super glad she will make a full recovery... what a little angel... that had to really hurt! :(
Something is not right with this story.I hope what I'm thinking happend Isn't true. At the same time I don't think hand sanatizer would combust with a static spark. something else happend.
@LisaPizza Ya seems hard to believe since myth busters used gasoline and tried to throw a cig into it like the movies always do to ignite it. They were never able to get the gas to catch fire now matter how hard they tried.
@FreedomRocksStatic electricity is enough of a danger when refueling your car that the Petroleum Equipment Institute has a 'Stop Static' campaign. Apparently static can succeed where a lit cigarette cannot. So, it's not outside the realm of possibility that static electricity could cause fire with something as flammable as hand sanitizer.
I am proud of all the commenters here for not writing anything about this being the hospital's fault! Who knows why some things happen? This does fall into the category of freak accident. Â One thing is for sure, this is a young person who has the attitude of a champion! (And I am not sure I've ever seen a prettier still photograph of a youngster before!) I'm glad she's going to be alright.
@Philip Marlowe Its the hospitals fault. <--- just cause. :)
That poor young lady has been through more in her short life than many people 5 times her age could endure!Â
She's one tough cookie! I wouldn't be surprised to see her really go places in life! She obviously has drive, determination and unimaginable strength!
Good for you sweetpea! Many, MANY people are praying & pulling for you!
May God bless you & reward you for all you've endured.. <3
Amazing spirit for someone so young having gone through so much. There are better days ahead Ireland! Hope you get well soon.
dng she is tough, and wow hand sanitizer? ouch.I never would have thought of that in 100 years, but I do know denatured alcohol is Flammable. i use it to remove sticky tape before I china paint.
@lee986321 Hand sanitizer is  very a common fire starter. It's safe to carry in a pack & yet extremely flammable. It's also a dual use item so great for hiking, camping etc...
In Alaska along the Iditarod they have emergency cabins with wood stoves and it's VERY common to find a bottle of the stuff in those cabins to use as a quick start for a fire.Â
@cwpholder @lee986321 It's not exactly "extremely flammable" it's nearly half water - ever tried 60% alcohol in an alcohol stove? Yeah it'll start a fire, but it doesn't exactly jump off a hospital tray and "engulf" you in flames. It's not gasoline. I just squirted a bunch into my hand and lit it. Whoopteedo. And in case you've never used alcohol to wipe down a surface, as a thin film, it evaporates quickly. If you light it on fire (if you can even get it to burn thinned out) it evaporates even faster. Also, it's probably not denatured.
Something doesn't add up about the story. I hope it really was an accident.
Shes still smiling too, what an amazing person. I stub my toe and cry about it all day. Keep that strength throughout life Ireland, not to many poeple have it.
What a tough and adorable little girl. They say bad things happen "in 3's" - well this is the third horrid thing to happen - great days ahead! Heal quick, little angel.
Wow, if she didn't have bad luck she would have no luck at all. I hope she heals soon.
static discharge spark maybe lit the alcohol in the sanitizer. some brands are really high proof ;)
What a brave little girl. I hope that she heals completely and goes on to live a long and fulfilling life.
Doernbecher one of the best children hospitals in the country. My grandaughter spent about 3 months and about a year and a half of kemo treatments at the facility 17 years ago. I got to watch her graduate high school last spring. Ireland your in great hands. Thank You Doernbecher
@Ghetto Baby Yup Doeornbecher hard to find a parking place, but..there CDRC rocks.
@Ghetto Baby Glad to read about your grand daughter! <3
Why does she have to go through this?! I know it must have been accidental, but damn. She's been through so much. Ireland, you rock, and my heart goes out to you and your family.
Poor kid. Sounds like she's been through way more than she should have been in her twelve years. But it sounds as though she has a very good attitude and spirit (better than I would).