Mother arrested after son suffers minor burns in 'fire challenge social media video’

Janie Talley's 16-year-old son allegedly doused himself in fingernail polish and set himself ablaze

Janie Lachelle Talley, 41, has been charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor after police said the woman was present when her son poured fingernail polish on himself before setting himself ablaze. (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police)

A mother in North Carolina has been arrested after her son took part in a “fire challenge” and filmed it.

Janie Lachelle Talley, 41, has been charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor after police said the woman was present when her son poured fingernail polish on himself before setting himself ablaze.

In a statement, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police say Talley was “aware of what her son (was) doing and facilitated the recording", the Charlotte Observer reported. The video reportedly showed others putting out the fire.

The teenager suffered minor burns to his chest and neck after incident, which police began investigating after the Department of Social Services was alerted. Talley was then arrested on 6 August and is scheduled to appear in court on 2 October.

Over recent weeks reports of people undertaking the so-called "fire challenge" have been spreading on social media with participants apparently pouring flammable liquid on themselves, lighting it, trying to quickly extinguish the fire and then posting a video online.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police said in a statement it "discourages this activity due to the extreme danger it poses to everyone involved and take all complaints seriously".