Accident leads to demand for better signs

The family of a boy severely burned when he stepped in a hole that actually was an improperly extinguished fire pit in the sand at Pismo Beach, wants the city to install better signs in hopes of preventing another injury.

Josh Blodget, 5, of Santa Clara, is recovering at home after a week's stay at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center for treatment of second-degree burns on his feet in June.

“I heard him screaming and ran over to him, and the skin was peeled back from his feet,” said Tanya Blodget, 37, Josh's mother.

Blodget and nearby lifeguards poured water on the boy's feet, which were severely burned, and medics took Josh to Arroyo Grande Community Hospital.

The boy was later taken to a specialized burn unit in his hometown.

Josh is now home from the hospital, but he will have to go through physical therapy and use a walker.

Josh's grandmother, Marilyn Pieters, is pushing to have bigger signs posted at beach entrances so more people are aware of the law.

Fires in the “beach safety zone” are prohibited unless it is a portable barbecue used exclusively for food preparation, according to the city's municipal code.

The beach safety zone is considered anywhere in the sand within the city boundaries, said Cal Fire Capt. Robert Gorman in Pismo Beach.

“The lifeguards patrol the coastline and are first to spot the fires, so they issue warnings. Then, if the warning isn't adhered to, the lifeguards will call police to file reports,” Gorman said.

The fines for having a fire on Pismo Beach range from $100 to $500.

“What's really weird is that we didn't see any signs posted on the beach that it was illegal to have a fire on the beach,” said Blodget.

Pieters, a 62-year-old Atascadero resident, said she has written letters to the Pismo Beach City Council seeking the ordinance and penalties to be spelled out more clearly on signage. She is hopeful the council will discuss the issue during an upcoming meeting.

Pismo Beach City Councilman Kris Vardas said the council will be investigating what needs to be done to prevent Josh's scenario from happening again.

“This was an unfortunate situation and my heart goes out to the boy and his family. Something needs to be done, whether it be more enforcement, but we have to look into the matter further,” Vardas said, “I don't have a time frame as to how soon there will be a solution, but this is an issue to be investigated,”

The accident has taken a toll on the Blodget family, not only emotionally but also financially, Blodget said.

Since both Blodget and her husband, Brandon, 37, are independent contractors, they pay their insurance policy individually.

“The ambulance ride alone from Arroyo Grande to Santa Clara is going to be astronomical. I don't even want to think about it,” Blodget said.

For now, Josh is happy to be at home back with his family and getting back to a normal life, his mom said.

“His skin hasn't grown back yet, but it is healing,” she said. “Fortunately he is young and will heal, but it's scary to go through. We had a lot of activities planned for this summer, and since this happened we won't be able to do anything. Josh's health is more important.”

July 4, 2008