Firefighters are warning young people of the dangers of lethal model car fuel after seven Doncaster youngsters were taken to hospital with burns on Monday evening.

The group, aged between seven and 13, are believed to have used the nitrus methane to try to get the fire going when playing with an outdoor brazier in a back garden. But, after the fuel ignited, it exploded, causing some severe burns to the seven, including face and chest injuries.

Firefighters and ambulances were called to an address on Dukes Crescent, Edlington, at around 5.45pm. Edlington Station Manager Neil Baugh said it was the second such incident he has attended in a matter of weeks. He said:

“It appears that these young people had been trying to get the fire going when they poured this model car fuel – nitrus methane – onto it. It is so volatile it just explodes, and some of this group have suffered some severe burns. It appears to be a bit of a trend and it is extremely worrying. I would urge young people not to play with fire of any kind, and definitely not with any accelerant such as this fuel or petrol.”

SM Baugh added: “ We are coming into the barbeque season and I would also urge local people only to use approved barbeque lighters for their own safety. Never use other accelerants to start a barbeque or any other kind of fire.”

None of the group of seven are believed to have suffered life threatening injuries, but some may be scarred for life due to the severity of the burns.

In the first incident, on 10th April, a man and a woman in their 20s suffered burns to their face, hair and chest in a similar incident on Hazelwood Drive, Swinton.