jamie guirola hashe details. >> reporter: this is not the first time the flame thrower was hired by the district. he cleared the whole act. figure out how it got approved. >> it's like being burned alive. >> reporter: a day after being hospitalized and set on fife in a gymnasium packed with students, ricky charles talks about his burns and bruises. >> my mistake. my fault. i take full responsibility. i should have practiced. >> reporter: charles has second-degree burns on his face, legs, and arms. he was performingt a pep rally at atlanta community high school when his act ended abruptly. >> boom, oh, no. as soon as i saw my pants on fire, i was like that's it. i'm done. >> reporter: he lights up in flames after another performer attempts to jump over him. nbc 6 decided not to show the disturbing video. >> no kids were in trouble. no kids were in danger. except me and my guys. >> reporter: but students could have been in danger. that's why the district has a policy against pyrotechnics inside its schools. investigating is who knew what, who approved this particular contract, and did in