Fiery warning for 'idiotic' trend

Fears children may turn to the latest 'idiotic” trend of setting fire to themselves is prompting one Tauranga school principal to take proactive action and issue a school-wide warning.

The Ministry of Education yesterday emailed school principals and Board of Trustees nationwide about the dangers of The Fire Challenge circulating on Facebook.


People filmed doing The Fire Challenge. Photo: Youtube.

The challenge, trending in America, involves covering your body with an accelerant and setting yourself on fire while another person will video the act and share it online.

Two people have reportedly died from the act, including a 15-year-old American boy burned to death in July after his entire body was engulfed in flames.

Otumoetai Intermediate principal Henk Popping received the Ministry's email and immediately forwarded it to parents and posted it to the school's Facebook page.

'You never know but people do some idiotic things. If I can save one person from damaging themselves then it's worth it.”

The school's Facebook post states while the act is supposed to be humorous, in reality many young people are suffering horrific burn injuries.

It says many people are unaware of how difficult is it to extinguish burning flammable liquids.

It warns of possible injuries including severe and painful burns leading to life-time scarring on the body and face.

The post has 21 shares and eight comments from parents including some who were unaware of the trend and will be 'chatting” with their children.

Henk says there has been no rumour of the fire challenge spreading through the intermediate but it is something the school and parents need to be aware of.

'The last thing I want is someone to hurt themselves or damage themselves and me be too late in warning people.”

Tauranga Fire Brigade senior station officer Kevin Cowper is not aware of the challenge. He says there have been no reports of people engaging in the act in Tauranga.

Kevin also questions the need for such a warning, but wants to dissuade individuals from trying it due to its harmful nature.

'I wouldn't have thought you wouldn't have had to put a warning out for that but hey.

'I'm surprised that people would be thinking about doing this.”

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8 comments

LOL

Posted on 02-09-2014 11:26 | By Capt_Kaveman

some people wonder re brain cells either of these 2 could have their hair catch fire and burns to their scalp this kind of thing is really intelligent and i have no sympathy


Sad

Posted on 02-09-2014 13:36 | By nerak

how brainless ones turn to more extreme stupidity to get a kick out of life. For anyone who thinks it's a fun idea, google Turia Pitt, she was caught in a bush fire and her life changed forever.


Darwinism

Posted on 02-09-2014 15:37 | By tish

For the FB masses. Awfully costly stupidity though.


Darwinism alright!

Posted on 02-09-2014 20:29 | By Bobby

Leave them to it, anyone who is stupid enough to attempt this has NOTHING to contribute to society. Might even reduce the welfare budget a bit....


Stop publicising stupidity!

Posted on 02-09-2014 21:47 | By GreertonBoy

Remember 'planking' and all the fuss that went on about that? Remember the kids drinking cocktails with liquid nitrogen? They fizzle out quite quickly.... the only thing that keeps them going longer than they normally would, is when they are 'advertised' by being publicised in the media. Say nothing and it will go away sooner....what a shame these young people cant concentrate on something constructive?


Totally Agree

Posted on 03-09-2014 09:18 | By The Caveman

Let them do it - might improve the humane gene pool a bit - Oh and NO ACC payments either.


@GreertonBoy

Posted on 03-09-2014 11:26 | By Sambo Returns

will your principle apply to Kim Dotcom??.


It has to be....

Posted on 03-09-2014 14:42 | By GreertonBoy

Darwins theory at work.... survival of the fittest (mind in this case) Sambo, I sure hope so, I am sure he will vanish in a puff of eleven different herbs and spices when the chicken runs out. I am sure if he gets ignored, he will eventually fade as well... lets all try it?


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