Student in critical condition after catching fire in Academic Magnet parking lot

**Hellsbells** · December 9th, 2010, 04:06 PM

NORTH CHARLESTON, SC --
Authorities say a North Charleston high school student was sent to a burn hospital in Georgia after suffering severe burns in a fire in his school's parking lot.

Multiple media outlets report that 70 percent of 16-year-old Aaron Williams' body was covered in burns in the fire at around 8:20 a.m. Wednesday in the parking lot of Academic Magnet High School in North Charleston.

A spokeswoman for the Joseph M. Still Burn Center in Augusta, Ga., said the high school junior was in critical condition late Wednesday.

Witnesses saw the teen's clothes were on fire as he ran toward the school's entrance. Staffers doused the fire and called authorities, who are still investigating the cause. Police towed a car away from the school as part of their investigation.

UPDATE:

The student was taken to MUSC, then later to the Augusta Burn Center. The burn center confirms the student's name is Aaron Williams. Crime scene tape surrounded a car in the school's parking lot. Police also towed a car from that location. Deckard says, "The car was towed as part of the investigation."

While police investigated, Academic Magnet and School of the Arts remained on lockdown. Parent Bruce Evenson was among a dozen parents waiting to enter campus to check on their children. His daughter witnessed the incident. He communicated with her through text message. One message reads, "Papa, I want to come home. Something horrible just happened. I can't even think. Can you come get me. Somebody caught completely on fire and I was one of the first people to see it and I can't stop shaking." Evenson says, "I'm a little nervous about getting in there to comfort her. I know she's alright. That is good."

Parent Terry Johnston says, "My husband called and said there was something that had gone on at campus and they were on administrative lockdown. I figured I had to get in touch with her to see if she can get out. I don't know the nature of what happened, but doesn't look like it could be that good if they've got yellow tape all around."

During the investigation, the schools were at code yellow, which means classes went on as usual. Charleston County School District Superintendent Dr. Nancy McGiney was at the school after the incident. The district also sent extra counselors to the school to help students who may have been shaken up by the incident.

The school district says they notified parents about the school lockdown through a parent-call system.

UPDATE 12:35 PM - Academic Magnet no longer on lockdown.

Academic Magnet High School in North Charleston is on lockdown because of a " fire-related incident this morning involving a student", according to the school district.

According to Jason Sakran with the Charleston County School District (CCSD), one student has been taken to the hospital, and "there is no threat to the security and safety of the school or other students."

EMS took the injured student to MUSC and the student's family has been notified.

Several parents of students in at both Academic Magnet, and Charleston County School of the Arts have emailed News 2 saying their children witnessed a student on fire in the parking lot. One of those parents read text messages from his daughter who said, "someone caught completely on fire".

The campus remains locked down as police investigate. CCSD officials say the students are all safe in their classrooms with teachers, and they expect to resume a normal schedule when police are finished.

A wrecker was seen towing a vehicle out of the parking lot of the school, but it is unclear who the vehicle belongs to.

http://www2.counton2.com/news/2010/d...wn-ar-1183159/

Authorities release 911 tape of school fire incident

NORTH CHARLESTON — Students at the Academic Magnet High School-School of the Arts used a fire extinguisher to douse a burning classmate as teachers then wrapped him with a blanket until authorities arrived at the campus early Wednesday morning, according to a 911 recording released by authorities.

Receptionist Dora Hartsell called 911 about 8:20 a.m. and told a dispatcher that a student was on fire in front of the administration building. She then calmly gave the address of the North Charleston school.

"Did you say a child on fire?" the dispatcher asked Hartsell.

Hartsell initially referred to the student as a she. Authorities later identified the student as 16-year-old Aaron Williams. Williams is still listed in critical condition at the Joseph M. Still Burn Center in Augusta, Ga., a spokeswoman said this morning.

"They're putting her out with an extinguisher and there are people out there assisting her," Hartsell said, as distraught voices shout in the background.

Hartsell said she didn't know how the fire happened.

"A teacher has already gone outside and covered her with a blanket and students have gone out there with an extinguisher," she said.

http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2...fire-incident/

you can hear the call at link

**Hellsbells** · December 9th, 2010, 07:47 PM

SC teen dies after setting self on fire

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) - Authorities say a North Charleston high school student has died after he set himself on fire in his school's parking lot.

Officials at the Joseph M. Still Burn Center in Augusta, Ga., say 16-year-old Aaron Williams died Thursday, a day after he suffered burns over 70% of his body

.

http://www.wbtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=13648412

Police say the high school junior saturated his clothes with a flammable liquid in the parking lot of Academic Magnet High School in North Charleston, then set himself on fire.

http://www.abcnews4.com/Global/story.asp?S=13648412

I wonder what was on his mind