Glocester teen hospitalized with third degree burns after ‘fire challenge’ at Slatersville Reservoir

NORTH SMITHFIELD – An 18-year-old Glocester man was hospitalized with severe burns this week after taking part in a dangerous internet trend that included setting himself on fire.

The teen took part in what’s known as “the fire challenge,” where participants douse themselves in some type of accelerant and then light themselves on fire before jumping into water – typically a pool or shower – to extinguish the flame.

North Smithfield Fire & Rescue Service was called to a location off of Route 102 around 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 6, according to Chief David Chartier.

“The two males involved were 16 and 18-years-old,” Chartier told NRI NOW.

The 18-year-old was transported to Rhode Island Hospital with second and third degree burns to his back.

Witnesses posted video on the incident on Facebook showing the teen engulfed in flames as he leaps some 30 feet into the reservoir.

It’s a highly dangerous game that’s led to major burns for kids across the country, spurned on to such “challenges” shared on social media. The fire challenge goes back more than a decade, with hundreds of videos of the reckless act posted on YouTube.

In North Smithfield, the danger took on a new element as the jump itself can be deadly. The area, located just by the town line between North Smithfield and Burrillville, has been a frequent scene of accidents over the years, including several swimmer fatalities.

Most recently, an 18-year-old man from Woonsocket drowned in 2022 after jumping from the railroad trestle.

According to town property records, the 5.2 acre private property that includes the deadly and illegal jumping area is currently owned by “19 Slater Drive, LLC.” The lot was owned by Linda Davis Griffin for many years and sold to Wilton Ribeiro in June. Ribeiro registered “19 Slater” as a business with the Rhode Island Secretary of State this past July.

Police Chief Tim Lafferty said he believes the area is marked with “no trespass” signs.

“We do our best at patrolling the area, but it is very difficult to observe a lot from the parking lot or roadway due to the foliage,” Lafferty said.

Chartier said on Saturday, the teen doused himself in gasoline, and that the kids walked back through the woods after a rescue was called.

“The call came in as someone burned at the boat ramp,” he said. “The kid that we transported clearly was injured.”

Chartier said when he first heard what had happened, he couldn’t wrap his head around it. The department conducted an investigation involving the state fire marshal.

As such challenges remain popular on websites such as TikTok, the chief advised teens to think about the consequences.

“We’ve got to think these kinds of things through,” Chartier said. “Who knows what this young man’s going to be in for in terms of the burns. It could have turned into a very tragic thing.”