Mom facilitates video of son setting himself on fire, held

A mother in the US has been arrested after allowing her son to participate in the social media video "fire challenge".

It's part of a Facebook challenge that encourages people to post a video of themselves on fire.

Janie Lachelle Talley, 41, was charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor after her son set himself on fire, the Charlotte Observer reported.

Talley's son poured fingernail polish on himself and then set himself on fire. He suffered minor burns to his chest and neck.

"Talley was present and aware of what her son (was) doing and facilitated the recording," according to a statement from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police.

According to police, Facebook has removed "fire challenge" videos from its site to avoid copycats.

"The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department discourages this activity due to the extreme danger it poses to everyone involved and takes all complaints seriously," the police statement read.