The mother of a Los Osos girl is hoping to raise awareness about the importance of putting out bonfires after she says her daughter suffered burns to her feet when she stepped into a makeshift firepit last weekend.
It happened July 7 when 3-year-old Alivia Gonzales’s family was celebrating a birthday at Montana de Oro, according to her mother, Kaycee, whose post about the incident on Facebook has now been shared more than 400 times.
According to the post, the firepit, located off a walkway near the parking lot where the family was setting up, was covered with sand, so it was not visible and had not been put out with water.
Alivia reportedly suffered second- and third-degree burns to her feet and was rushed to a nearby gas station where the family was able to call 911 and meet an ambulance, her mother says.
The girl is still being treated at a burn center in Bakersfield, according to a GoFundMe account set up by a family member.
State Parks Superintendent Eric Hjelstrom says while there are few places illegal ground fires can occur, coals can stay hot for long periods of time.
Open fire pits are not allowed in Montana de Oro State Park and fires are only allowed to be built in designated fire pits, according to Hjelstrom.
Those found violating the policy can be ticketed.
Kaycee Gonzales says State Parks was notified of the incident Wednesday. Hjelstrom says that if someone is injured at the park or sees illegal activity, it’s helpful to get a report, even after the fact.
The GoFundMe page For Alivia had raised $3,333 by late Sunday morning.
