Communities in Greene and Martin counties stepping up to help burned boys and their families

The road to recovery will be a long and costly one for two youngsters who were severely burned in a tragic accident Saturday afternoon in Scotland.

Nicholas Decker, a 10-year-old fourth-grade student at Bloomfield Elementary School and Joshua Merritt, an 11-year-old student at Loogootee East Elementary School, suffered extensive burns when they were consumed with flames from a gasoline explosion at a fire pit in Scotland.

Details of what happened are still under investigation, but preliminary reports show that gasoline from a plastic container was doused onto a smoldering blaze in a firepit. It ignited and caught the two youngsters on fire.

Both boys are currently listed in "critical" condition at Riley Children's Hospital burn unit in Indianapolis, Clarian Health public relations coordinator Margie Smith-Simmons told the Greene County Daily World on Tuesday afternoon.

Both boys have undergone surgical procedures to stabilize them during their initial hospitalization after they were airlifted to the medical facility by Air-Evac helicopters.

Both suffered extensive second and third degree burns over 75 percent of their bodies.

The community has been quick to reach out to help the victim's families.

Lori George has organized a fundraiser event for both families at the Bloomfield American Legion Post No. 196 -- slated for May 2.

The program is still being put together, but it will include an auction, donated goods and a meal.

The doors will open at 1:30 p.m. to bring in donated items for the auction. A meal will be served starting at 5 p.m. and at about 5:30 p.m. the auction will begin.

Starting at 8 p.m., a dance will follow featuring Silverado. There will be a cover charge and it will be divided between the two victim families.

Anyone who has items to donate can contact George by calling 227-1617 or 384-8721.

Special bank accounts have also been established for each of the families at Bloomfield State Bank. Donations can be made at any BSB branch facility in the area.

Bloomfield School Superintendent Dan Sichting said the tragic accident has struck his school community very hard.

Sichting said a faculty meeting was conducted early Monday morning to prepare students and teachers for the news and help them to field questions from the students.

Also, counselors were available for students and bus drivers were also briefed.

"In a lot of the classes on Monday the students made get well cards and (principal) Mrs. (Mary Jane) Vandeventer is planning to deliver those get-well cards this afternoon (Tuesday)," the superintendent said. "Obviously our hearts go out to the families. They will continue to be in our thoughts and prayers as things evolve. This is not going to be a situation that ends quickly. There are going to be some medical issues ongoing I am sure with the types of injuries that were sustained and our thoughts and prayers go out to the families as they go this difficult time. We pray for Nick's healing and return to good health."

Sichting said a school fundraiser for the Decker family is in the planning stages, but details have yet to be worked out.

As a first step to help the family, the superintendent said donations have already been taken up.

Staffs at both the elementary as well as the junior-senior high schools also contributed financially to the Decker family.

Yesterday the two staffs at the elementary and the junior-senior high took up some funds to try and help the family offset the cost that they are going to see in terms of being in Indianapolis at the hospital.

"I am sure it will be a drop in the bucket, but hopefully it will assist," he said.

Sichting said the people in Greene County are close-knit and when a tragedy like this strikes they are more than willing to help any way possible.

"I think this is another example of that," he added.

Bill Powell, principal at Loogootee East Elementary School where Josh Merritt is a fourth-grade student, says similar concerns have been shown at his school.

Students and faculty members started contributing money to the family on Monday morning. Get well cards have also been fashioned by a large number of students.

"We were all really taken back by the fact that the burns are so serious and it's been a real solemn attitude around here. Thoughts and prayers are with the family and we're basically sitting tight and waiting to hear what the progress is on a daily basis," Powell said. "They are stable but in critical condition now.

"It's burns, that's a terrible thing. That's probably one of the worst kind of injuries that you can have. The thing that's on his (Josh) side is the fact that I think he's a pretty tough kid and his youth. We're hopeful, but we realize that his condition is critical. It's hard telling with the amount of burns that I've heard described over his body, how long of road he'll have before he can come back here (to school)."

The principal stressed, "Our heart goes out to those families. We're doing a little thing here to try and help out. We sent out a call to our teachers and they've donated some funds and there were some kids that brought in money and asked that it be donated."

Powell said, "This is such a tragedy. ... Please keep these boys in your thoughts and prayers. I'm just hopeful. The little guy (Josh) is a fighter and I think he won't give up. You just hope for the best and let the 'big guys' handle it."