After an incident that left two boys with serious burns, fire officials believe a social media challenge is to blame.
That incident happened just after 7:30 p.m. on Monday in the 700 block of Rosedale Avenue as crews were called out to a structure fire.
When they arrived, they found two kids — ages 14 and 11 — severely burned but no active fire.
Investigators said one boy had third-degree burns from the waist up, and the other had first and second-degree burns on their face and arms.
Cause remains unknown after two children were hospitalized with burns Monday night
Those children were life-flighted to a Pittsburgh burn treatment center Monday night.
After an investigation, fire marshals said their burns are consistent with a social media challenge that’s gone viral where kids use accelerants, like rubbing alcohol, to burn their clothing hoping it burns off of their body without harming them.
“We want kids to be fully aware that fire is not anything you want to play with. Things can go sideways in the blink of an eye and change your life forever. These types of injuries, you’re looking at multiple surgeries, skin graffs, and years of rehabilitation,” said Captain Adam Gatti, fire marshal/K9 handler with the City of Erie Fire Department.