How had this boy not been taught about the dangers of gasoline? If you need to start a fire, reasonable amounts of charcoal starter does a good job with a small fraction of the explosiveness of gasoline.
We were at a park and some grown men were trying to light a bbq pit down a bit from us. I knew what was going on in their little pee brains and told kiddo to get behind me. Yeppers, they poured a gas can on it. BAM! Surprised they didn’t blow themselves up.
Where would they learn that?
I’m a scoutmaster, so they learn that from me. How do other boys learn that, from Dad?
Mom divorced that guy.
You can also overdo the charcoal starter. A group of us were setting up our tents, preparing out campsite. There was a light drizzle of rain but not too bad. One fellow was building a fire for dinner. He had made a fair size pile of charcoal and wood in a fire ring, putting on charcoal starter. The first attempt to light it fizzled. Frustrated. he then used about half the can and started to light it, when I pipe up, "Wait, wait!", but it was too late and flames came back on him setting his pants on fire. Fortunately, he did roll and others covered and extinguished the flames. He had only a few minor burns.
Now for the somewhat amusing, somewhat tragic fact of the incident. This guy was the scout master. ;o)