The incident is understood to be a tragic accident.

The fire flared suddenly, and the child, who was sitting close to the pit on a lounger, suffered serious burns. His mother was also seriously injured.

Four other people were taken by ambulance to hospitals in Cork and Kerry. A number of others also received minor injuries to their hands.

The child remains in hospital in Crumlin, Dublin.

Attempts were made to limit the burn injuries as family members and neighbours rushed to assist those who had been injured. Emergency services arrived at the scene shortly afterwards.

The Mayor of Killarney, councillor Martin Grady, who works as a fire officer, was among those who attended the scene. 

He said firefighters were shocked by the severity of the injuries and urged people not to use accelerants when lighting outdoor fires.

“Always have an extinguisher close by,” Mr Grady urged.

“This heartbreaking event serves as a stark reminder of the devastating and unpredictable danger that fire can pose,” he said.

“Our thoughts are with those who were injured and their families, and everyone affected by the traumatic incident. I wish all of those involved a full and speedy recovery and I hope they receive every support they need in the days and weeks ahead."

In a statement, gardaí said emergency services, including four ambulances, attended the scene of a fire at a domestic residence in Killarney, Co Kerry, on Saturday, June 13, 2026.

A technical examination of the scene has been conducted.

Investigations are ongoing.