'Fire challenge' sends several kids to hospitals with severe burns

Timiyah Landers, a 12-year-old girl in Detroit, is recovering from critical burns on nearly half her body after participating in a viral "fire challenge" circulating YouTube and other social media platforms, according to Detroit Free Press.

On Aug. 17, Timiyah poured rubbing alcohol on herself and lit the substance on fire after seeing other people do the challenge on YouTube. She was rushed to a hospital where she is now on a ventilator in intensive care. She will require multiple surgeries after suffering burns on 49 percent of her body, according to Fox 2.

While videos of the fire challenge have been online since 2012, the dangerous act is still sending kids to the hospital. A 12-year-old boy from Spartanburg, Ga., was hospitalized for trying the challenge in July.

Due to rubbing alcohol being a thin liquid, it can burn quickly and sometimes does not harm people who try the fire challenge. However, the challenge becomes more dangerous when alcohol gets on clothes and is poured over the chest and face, fire officials told USA Today.

Timiyah's mother, Brandi Owens, told Fox 2 she believes the fire challenge videos should be taken off YouTube. In an emailed statement to the publication, a YouTube spokesperson said, "YouTube's Community Guidelines prohibit content that's intended to encourage dangerous actives with inherent risk of physical harm or death. We remove flagged videos that violate our policies."

A YouTube search reveals several "fire challenge" videos remain on the site.

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