Cleveland child airlifted after falling into fire pit

CLEVELAND -- A 5-year-old Cleveland girl suffered burns on her arm and hands when she fell in a burn pit at her home Wednesday night.

The burns were serious enough that emergency medical personnel decided to have her flown to an Atlanta hospital for treatment.

According to the child's mother, Joyce Sykes, she and the child had just returned from the grocery store at the time of the incident. When they got out of the car, the 5-year-old, identified as Raven Ellenger, ran toward the fire pit.

Sykes said the child tripped and fell into the pit that contained mostly hot coals. According to Sykes, Raven suffered second-degree burns to her hands and arm.

The incident happened at the child's home, but she was taken to Cleveland Fire Department, where they met an ambulance and waited for a medical helicopter to land.

The child was flown to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston for treatment. Additional details were not immediately available.