Millerton Teen Mimics Online Stunt, Starts Fire

MILLERTON, NY — A 15-year-old started a fire in a Millerton residence while trying to copy an online stunt, State Police said. On June 29, around 4:30 p.m., State Police responded to a structure fire on South Center Street in the Village of Millerton. Police determined that the teen had doused his finger in rubbing alcohol and then set it on fire while standing at the kitchen sink.

The child panicked, police said, and he inadvertently transferred the fire to the rubbing alcohol bottle which exploded.

That caused his shirt and the kitchen curtains to catch fire. [Get Patch’s Daily Newsletter and Real Time News Alerts here.]

The 15-year-old ran to a nearby business where a good Samaritan was able to put the fire out with an extinguisher.

The teen was taken to Sharon Hospital in Connecticut with burns to his upper torso. He was later transferred to Westchester Medical Center for further medical treatment.

Millerton Fire Department and EMS also responded to the scene.

The case remains under investigation.

State Police said it would like to warn parents about this dangerous stunt involving accelerants.

Image via Shutterstock.