US firefighter lights children’s hands on fire to teach them about poor decision-making

The firefighter told police he was demonstrating the flammability of sanitizer and was attempting to teach the students about poor decision-making.

A Vermont firefighter is charged with lighting his children’s hands on fire in what he told police was an attempt to teach them about poor decision-making.

The children were not injured, but could have been seriously burned. (Shutterstock/Representative image)

Twenty-eight-year-old Levi Dykema, of Ferrisburgh, is facing three counts of reckless endangerment after police say he covered the hands of his children, ages 5, 7 and 10, with hand sanitizer and ignited it. WCAX-TV reports he is also accused of posting video of the event to social media.

Dykema, who has pleaded not guilty, told police he was demonstrating the flammability of sanitizer and attempting to teach them about poor decision-making. Police say the children were not injured, but could have been seriously burned.

The Charlotte Select Board says Dykema has been suspended from his position as a volunteer firefighter.