YouTube yobs in fire stunt
Tuesday 14th July 2009, 12:15PM BST.
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A shocking video showing two Telford yobs creating a petrol-powered flame-thrower and shooting flames 20ft into the air before setting fire to a lamppost has been posted on YouTube.
The video, called Stirchley Boys’ Firemen?, shows two youths giving a blow-by-blow commentary of what they are doing before demonstrating their handiwork while standing in the middle of a street.
Fire chiefs today said they were shocked by the video and police said they would launch an investigation.
The footage shows the teenagers filling a fire extinguisher canister with oil and petrol before setting fire to a large stick.
Standing up, the youths use the stick as a torch and ignite the flame-thrower sending flames of about 20ft into the sky.
The youths then turn their make-shift flame-thrower towards a nearby lamppost and set it on fire.
The video ends with the message: “1988 to 2008 Stirchley Boys – 20 years of mischievous behaviour.”
Today John Das-Gupta, head of community fire safety for Shropshire Fire and Rescue, said: “We do not condone or encourage playing with fire.
“Petrol is an extremely volatile substance and is unpredictable. One minute it might seem like entertainment and the next it could potentially kill someone and be very destructive.
“We are not talking singed eyebrows here, but loss of sight and permanent disfiguration. When decanting petrol, you become surrounded by flammable vapours and could potentially be engulfed by flames. We are really shocked about this.”
Richard Tyler, Telford & Wrekin councillor for Stirchley, Randlay and Hollinswood, said: “I’m pretty shocked. They are not only endangering their own lives but the lives of residents. I would really urge whoever is doing or has done this to stop and anyone who might know who was involved to contact the police.”
Rachel Anstee, spokeswoman for West Mercia Police, said: “Obviously we don’t support any actions of arson or criminal damage and now this has been brought to our attention we will investigate the footage to see if any crime has been committed.”
By Catherine Roche
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Do Star reporters spend all day trawling YouTube, looking for anything risky that’s been posted with a local connection? This is not news and publicising such an act only prompts copycat activity.
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i never look at youtube, i just wait until the shropshire star put dangerous antics on their website
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Very dangerous, and no need to burn the lamppost… that mindless vandalism deserves to be punished. However, on a positive note, it was rather inventive and quite a clever stunt. I’m in no way condoning it but maybe the talents of these yobs could be channelled in better ways.
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and why the Shropshire Star ID overlay, I doubt the Star could claim any copyright for this.
It seems to infer you don’t distance yourself from the activity in the video?
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this video was posted in January,come on Shropshire star get a grip and post some REAL news
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I’ve just noted that, the message below this comment box in which I’m typing this, states “Before you post any comment you must ensure that it meets our content standards.”.
The irony is not lost on me, as can we commenters ask the Star and it’s editors to ensure that THEY possesses content standards before publishing such pulpy rubbish? I would expect this level of journalism from The News of The World.
PS.
The pond life in the clip have clearly been lucky. Darwin, for some inexplicable reason, missed them on his last pass over Stirchley.
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Do you realise that this was 20 years ago?
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This was done over 20 years ago. There were NO complaints at the time & the metal lamp post was unharmed. Please, as teenagers I think 90% of us may have done things that our parents would have been ashamed of, but that is part of finding out who you are. Yes it was dangerous,& someone could have got burned but I have had more friends end up in hospital or the grave from traffic accidents than the teenage stunts I have witnessed over the years.
And how has this SCUMMY YOB turned out?????
He has travelled the world (twice) under his own steam, never been unemployed since leaving school 21 years ago, Still with his first wife & has two beautiful polite loving children, & he only took 8 years to pay off his mortgage in full.
This is not me blowing my own trumpet, but this is me stating that most teenage pranks are just that, Pranks.
Not bad for pond life eh WINJA X X
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Well thank god for investigative journalism.
Lets search the web for old videos, write several hundred words about the footage and make it front page ‘News !!’. It was clear from the video and associated links that this ‘flamethrower’ event most likely occurred some 20 years ago. I just hope the reporter doesn’t watch the History channel and see footage of Germany invading Poland – I can only guess what the headline would be !
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What an irresposible thing for the Shropshire Star to report. By showing this you have only sown the seed into every other like minded moron out there. I have looked at the Stirchley boys clips on You Tube,its obviously very old footage and not NEWS.
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The YOB in the Video – I wish all would turn out like you! The UK would be a much better place!
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So. This was footage taken 20 years ago?
I know mobile phones were about in 1989, but I’m pretty sure none had video functions, nor am I sure that teenagers in 1989 wore Rockport jackets………
Cheers,
WINJA XXX
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There may not have been camera phones 20 years ago but there was such a thing as a video camera and it’s pretty easy with modern technology to just transfer stuff from an old VHS tape into a computer.
And teenagers have been wearing Rockport gear since the 70s.
If the footage really is 20 years old, it does make me wonder whether there is such a thing as decent journalism these days.
The clothing alone in the clip should have let the reporter writing this know it was filmed years ago! Hardly news, is it?
Come on Shropshire Star, quit with the You Tube rubbish and report on some real news which actually affects the people in this county!
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