A San Clemente woman is hospitalized with second- and third-degree burns after a bizarre incident that began with a trip to the beach.
After the 43-year-old woman and her children returned home, her cargo shorts suddenly burst into flames.
Investigators are looking at a link between the fire and some beach rocks she was carrying in her pants pocket.
The woman's kids had initially picked up the rocks at the popular Trestles area at San Onofre State Beach. Some of the rocks were reportedly speckled green, while others were orange.
The children later gave the rocks to their mom for safekeeping and she put them in her pocket.
Investigators think that, later at the family's home, friction may have built up as the woman walked, apparently causing a combustion.
Flames shot off of the woman’s pants and she suffered burns to her leg, fire officials said.
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The woman stopped, dropped and rolled in an effort to douse the flames. The woman's husband suffered second-degree burns to his hand when he tried to help.
The woman is being treated at Western Medical Center in Santa Ana. Her name has not been released.
The Orange County Health Care Agency is now testing the beach rocks, said Capt. Marc Stone of the Orange County Fire Authority.
It could take about a week for the agency to finish its investigation, Stone said.
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