Boy, four, rushed to hospital for burns from 'deliberate' fire abandoned on Portsmouth footpath

A child was reportedly rushed to hospital with serious burns from a fire that had been started ‘deliberately’.

Eyewitnesses have told The News about a fire that had been abandoned in the Foxes Forest area of Hilsea Lines, and came across a child who was screaming after being injured by it.

According to Matt Reed, who saw the blaze, the young boy was burned by the fire and had to be taken to hospital for treatment.

He said: “Me and my twin were walking along Tudor Crescent when we noticed a young four-year-old boy was screaming before help, along with his family. We quickly noticed that both of his hands had been badly burned, and gave medical assistance before driving him to Queen Alexandra Hospital, where he was treated for major burns.

“We then followed up with a quick direct visit to the spot where his mother had said it happened, and noticed this was a big fire that was abandoned by people, and was extremely hot and dangerous.

“The ash was so hot that when I attempted to vent it and spread the ash, I had to walk away for a while due to the heat. This was also right next to the kids and animals play, not to mention a fire risk in this heat inside a wooded area.”

A spokesperson for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service said: “Firefighters were called to an open fire in Hilsea, Portsmouth, shortly after 3.30pm yesterday.

“The fire, measuring approximately five metres by five metres, was extinguished by crews using buckets, knapsack sprayers, forks and shovels. The stop message was received at 4pm.

“The cause of the fire is believed to have been deliberate.”