Rhode Island Fire Marshal warns residents of TikTok trend after teen suffers serious burns
NORTH SMITHFIELD, R.I. (WLNE) — The State Fire Marshal is warning Rhode Islanders of a TikTok trend just days after a teen who took part in the challenge was hospitalized with serious burns.
A stunt took place in North Smithfield on Sept. 6, as video captured a teen lighting himself on fire and jumping 30 feet off an old train trestle into the Slatersville Reservoir.
In the viral video, onlookers could be seen cheering him on, but the State Fire Marshal Timothy McLaughlin said the trend is far from fun and games.
“I couldn’t believe it,” McLaughlin said. “When we got the call, and my investigators actually told me about it, and then I saw the video clip, I don’t think there’s anything, any words you can put to that.”
Officials said a 16-year-old and an 18-year-old both took part in the stunt.
The 18-year-old had to be treated for second and third-degree burns to his back, but the 16-year-old was not hurt.
“The video that you saw, one would pour gas on one, one poured the gas on the other, then they lit their clothes on fire, and jumped off a trestle bridge into the water,” McLaughlin said.
The fire marshal said it stems from a new social media challenge.
“First of all, gasoline fire, why? There’s no reason for it,” McLaughlin said. “Danger to yourself, endangering other people, first responders that respond to that, you jumped off a trestle bridge, now they have to go get you out of the water.”
There have not been any other reports of people trying this type of stunt in Rhode Island, so the State Fire Marshal’s Office is trying to get in front of it now.
“We all get it. I don’t know that social media is the greatest thing in the world,” McLaughlin said. “It’s good for some things, but obviously not for this stuff.”
McLaughlin said anyone who is considering this challenge shouldn’t do it.
“Don’t. Do something else,” McLaughlin said. “Go to the movies, go to the store, find something else to do. Don’t do any of these challenges.”
