After A Fire Pit Accident, Ben Ward Is Back To Being Himself

For Severna Park kindergartener Ben Ward, some of the best parts of his recent hospital stay were the scooter rides and dinosaur slippers.

The bandage changes and needles were another story. “The needles were big,” he recalled.

After a backyard fire pit accident left Ben with serious burns, he faced surgery, daily wound care and uncertainty about his recovery. Now, he is back to playing soccer, riding his bike and enjoying kindergarten - and his parents are sharing their experience to help other families prepare for accidents that can happen in seconds.

The July 2026 evening began with a familiar family routine. After spending the day outside cleaning up the yard, Angela and Dewey Ward gathered with their children around a fire pit for s’mores.

“Everything was going like any other Saturday where we were having family time around the fire,” Angela said.

As the family began to head inside, Ben tripped and fell into the fire pit. Relatives were nearby, but no one was looking directly at him at that moment.

“It was just a random fall,” Dewey said.

The family immediately removed Ben’s loose clothing, brought him inside and ran cool water over his burns. His grandmother, a registered nurse, was present, and both parents had some first-aid training.

They drove him to Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center and staff arranged his transfer to Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, where he ultimately spent 10 days.

Dr. Alejandro Garcia, director of the Children Center’s Pediatric Burn Program, oversaw Ben’s care. Garcia explained that burns involving flames can cause deep injuries. Ben’s burns affected areas on the back of his body and his hand.

Doctors initially cleaned and bandaged the wounds while assessing whether surgery would be necessary. By the fourth day, Garcia said, they determined that some damaged skin needed to be removed and replaced with grafts using Ben’s healthy skin.

Ben’s hand was treated with a biosynthetic wound covering, Angela said. Watching the treatment work offered a measure of reassurance during a frightening experience.

Ben’s recovery involved more than healing skin. For young children, Garcia said, the injury itself, an unfamiliar hospital environment and repeated wound care can cause considerable anxiety. Psychologists and other specialists help children cope alongside their medical treatment.

Angela said a member of the psychology team at the Children’s Center checked on Ben every day. Physical and occupational therapists also helped him keep moving.

“They were very busy mornings, but he was very supported, and it did make a difference,” she said.

Between treatments, Ben found ways to play. A small scooter became a favorite hospital activity, sometimes padded with pillows to make riding more comfortable. His dinosaur slippers inspired what the family called “big monster steps” during physical therapy.

He also formed lasting connections with his nurses. During return visits for therapy, he has asked to stop by his former floor, bringing cupcakes on one visit.

Ben reached another milestone on his first day of kindergarten: He no longer needed bandages.

His recovery continues, including follow-up appointments, scar care and compression garments. Angela said Ben’s doctors are pleased with his healing, and a recent occupational therapy appointment confirmed that his mobility was progressing well.

“He was happy. He was playing,” she said of his time in the hospital. “And that was him the whole time.”

For the Wards, the experience reinforced the importance of preparation, even during activities the family has enjoyed many times.

“We have rules. It’s something we do all the time,” Dewey said. “But all it takes is a second.”

Garcia echoed that concern. Having several adults nearby does not eliminate the possibility of a child falling or reaching toward something hot.

He also cautioned that a fire pit remains dangerous after visible flames disappear. Embers can retain enough heat to cause serious burns for hours, and children who fall often put out their hands to catch themselves.

Children should keep their distance from a fire pit and only adults should tend the fire. Maintaining a child-free perimeter of at least 3 feet is advised, along with keeping a bucket of water nearby to thoroughly extinguish and cool embers rather than letting the fire burn down on its own.

If a burn occurs, Garcia recommended cooling the affected area with cool water, protecting the injury with a clean covering and getting prompt medical care.

The Ward family hopes Ben’s experience encourages awareness while acknowledging that accidents happen - and that recovery is possible.

For Ben, the answer to how he feels now is simple.

“Good,” he said.

When the conversation turned to soccer, he had something else to add. “I win almost every soccer game,” he shared.