An Elgin boy playing in a garage with a friend started on fire and doctors have since amputated both of his arms.

Dustin Olsen, 9, son of Ron and Emily Olsen, of Elgin, is at Region's Hospital Burn Unit in St. Paul, Minn., where he is sedated and stable after surgeries to amputate both arms below the elbow and treat other burned areas.

The incident occurred around 12:30 p.m. Saturday at a vacant garage, owned, but not occupied, by the family of Dustin Olsen's friend.

Elgin Police Chief Roger Riedlinger said the matter is still under investigation.

"All it was is a couple of boys playing with fire," Riedlinger said.

He declined to name the other boy involved because of the boy's juvenile status. Riedlinger said he hasn't been able to talk to him much because he's still in shock.

From what he could gather at the scene, Riedlinger said the boys might have had a small fire in a Styrofoam cup that they sprayed with an aerosol of some sort.

"I imagine is just went 'Poof,' " Riedlinger said.

After the fire started, Larry Ouhl, pastor of the nearby Methodist Church, answered a knock at the door and a plea for help.

He followed the boy over to the garage and said he found Dustin Olsen outside completely engulfed in flames.

He said most of the boy's clothing had been burned off, but he quickly removed a burning remnant of the boy's sweatshirt from around his head area. Although he had grabbed a fire extinguisher from the house, Ouhl said he used his own hands to put out the flames because he didn't want to use extinguisher chemicals on the boy's body.

Ouhl sustained third-degree burns on both hands.

He said his wounds will heal "and I'll have my hands, but Dustin won't and he'll have to deal with that all his life."

The community of Elgin is already in a whirlwind of benefit plans to help the Olsen family.

Ouhl said there's a benefit account at Farmers State Bank in Elgin under Dustin Olsen's name, plus plans for a pancake and sausage breakfast and other fund-raisers, including an effort by the Boy Scouts. Emily Olsen is a scout leader.

Anyone who wants to help or contribute can call Ouhl at 584-2307 or e-mail him at pastor_pete@hotmail.com.

(Reach reporter Lauren Donovan at 888-303-5511 or lauren@westriv.com.)