Hamilton sisters burnt in horrific campfire explosion

Two Hamilton sisters say they are lucky to be alive after they were set alight when fuel was poured on their campfire, causing it to explode.

Jesse (left) and Olivia (right) were severely burnt when fuel was tipped on a campfire they were standing around. Picture: Supplied

Two Hamilton sisters were horrifically burnt when a jerry can full of fuel was poured on a campfire, causing it to explode and setting them alight.

Olivia Jones, 23, and Jesse Jones, 21, were working at a sheep shearing shed in Telopea Downs when the tragedy unfolded about 7.30pm on October 17.

The sisters were about three metres away from the fire when fuel was tipped on it, causing a huge explosion.

Flames immediately jumped on Olivia and Jesse, setting them on fire.

Jesse told the Herald Sun that she was lucky to be alive.

“All I could hear was crackling hair, I could taste the fuel in my mouth,” she said.

“I remember trying to pull my jumper off over my head because it kept catching fire and relighting and then I remember someone yelling “take it off her, get it off her”.

“After that, I think I remember dad taking me into the shower once the fire was out.”

Jesse while she was in a coma. Picture: Supplied

Olivia’s facial injuries. Picture: Supplied

Jesse said she cried when she found out that her bra had melted to her skin.

“I had touched my forehead and lips while I was in the shower and I remember it feeling rubbery and wrinkly,” she said.

“I could see the skin on my hands looked as if it was melting off.

“I didn’t know my back was burnt or under my arms. I only knew that my face, chest and hands were, but only because I could see them.”

The sisters were flown to the Alfred Hospital in a serious condition with Olivia suffering from second degree burns to her face, hands, shoulders and back.

“I will never, ever, forget the feeling of my face and head in flames ... I couldn’t breathe,” she said.

“I was yelling and screaming but I don’t remember what I was saying, I just remember in that very moment thinking “I’m going to die”.

“My eyes had swollen shut to the point where you couldn’t even see my eyelashes.

“The whole left side of my face was unrecognisable, my hands were bandaged and blistered to where I couldn’t even pick up a knife or fork.”

Olivia (left) and Jesse (right) before they were burnt. Picture: Supplied

Jesse was put into an induced coma for three days and underwent surgery where skin grafts were placed on her hands, chest, shoulder and under her arms.

“Doctors started popping and cutting away the blisters and dead skin,” she said.

“I also remember the scrunchie I had my hair tied back with had melted to my hair.”

Olivia was discharged from hospital last Thursday but Jesse remains at the burn unit for the next two weeks.

Both sisters won’t be able to go into the sun for the next two years due to the risk of permanent damage if they get sunburnt.

Olivia and Jesse’s older sister, Maddison, created a GoFundMe page for the women which has raised more than $30,000.

“It’s going to be a long road ahead with recovery, physio and getting back to a reasonable norm,” Maddison said.

“Seeing all of the communities coming together to support them has been amazing.”

Maddison said the incident has “hit home” with many people in the rural industry.

“We’ve all seen or heard of someone lighting a fire with petrol, or diesel, but obviously this just shows the extent, and how easily things can go wrong,” she said.

“It’s better to just avoid it all together.

“If you can’t be smart around fire, don’t light one at all.”