Boy, 5, injured in burn-pile accident in Conroe

CONROE, TX (KTRK) -- A 5-year-old was badly injured in a burn-pile accident in Conroe.

Montgomery County officials say it happened on Willow at Pine near FM 1097.

Ayden Cormier has second-degree burns on 50 to 80 percent of his body. He was transported by Life Flight to UTMB in Galveston.

Family members say Ayden, his mother and siblings set a small fire outside their home Friday afternoon. When mom went inside to use the restroom, Ayden grabbed a gas can.

"He went behind her and it doesn't take him more than a few seconds," said Ayden's grandfather. "You know, he's only five years old, with a gas can of all things."

The fire spread quickly, scorching the five-year-old's arm, legs and back.

"He's our little man," said grandmother Judy Cormier. "He's a trooper. He's a very happy child."

Montgomery County fire officials are urging families to be safe when setting fires.

"If you have small gas cans that you have at your house make sure you keep those out of reach of your children," said Fire Marshal, Jimmy Williams. "It only takes a moment for you to turn your back for your child to get hurt."