8 teenagers were injured as a result of an explosion of a fuel barrel at a beach party

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU/Gray News) – Eight Alaskan teenagers were injured in an explosion at a beach party that authorities say a partygoer threw a 55-gallon fuel drum into a fire.

Mia Camacho, 16, is one of the teenagers injured in the incident early Sunday morning. Her mother, Cynthia Vasquez, tried to stay positive as she waited by her daughter’s side at the Alaska Native Medical Center. KTUU reports.

Content Warning: Details, videos, and photos in this article may be disturbing to some.

Vasquez says Mia attended the bonfire at White Sands Beach in Kodiak with some friends and says she was considering leaving the party when she decided to stay a little longer at the last minute. Vasquez said this decision GoFundMechanged “the world of her daughter in a split second.”

According to her mother, Mia suffered second-degree burns to her face, hands, arms and legs as a result of the explosion. She is expected to remain in the hospital for at least three weeks.

“It’s hard to see,” Vasquez said. “You had a beautiful face, and it’s just her face, her hands, her legs. My faith has been tested during these dark times, but I have many friends and family who have been very supportive. But I’m only human, and I fall apart from time to time.”

On November 10, 2024, teenager Mia Camacho was injured by an exploding fuel drum on Kodiak Beach.(Courtesy of Cynthia Vasquez)

Police say between 20 and 40 teenagers were at the same party around 1 a.m. Sunday when the fuel drum exploded. Mia was among five teenagers who troopers said were taken to an Anchorage hospital with moderate injuries.

Also among these teenagers is 15-year-old Kavik Wolf.

Cavic’s grandmother, Xochitl Morris, and older sister, Danica Wolf, traveled from Kodiak to stay with the teenager. Because Kavik suffered severe second-degree burns to his face and body and third-degree burns to his hands, they have no indication at this time how long his recovery will take, Morris said.

“The pain was so bad and he’s completely traumatized,” Morris said. “Just a few minutes ago this moment passed, he needs to take medicine to keep the pain down. He’s screaming and I don’t think any child deserves that.”

GoFundMe page was configured to help Kavik’s family with expenses as he recovers.

This was announced by Austin McDaniel, Director of Public Safety Communications law enforcement officers detained the guilty teenager for throwing a jug of fuel into the fire.

“He has been placed in the custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice at this time,” McDaniel said. “We are still actively investigating this and, again, encourage anyone who was at the party or anyone who has first-hand information but has not spoken to state troopers to consider contacting the state police Alaska to provide us with more information so we can help complete our investigation.”

A video shot by a teenager shows the moment of the explosion on the beach, when his fellow teenager threw a 55-gallon drum of fuel into the fire. (KTUU)

According to McDaniel, police are still investigating whether anyone else was injured who did not seek medical attention.

McDaniel said the department is aware of eight people who received hospital treatment, including five who were flown to Anchorage from Kodiak.

“If anyone else was injured, that would be information we would like to know as we are working with the Division of Juvenile Justice as they work to determine what, if any, juvenile charges they may pursue,” he said.

Police are asking anyone who witnessed the incident and has not yet been in contact with them to call (907) 486-4121.

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