Some years back, I was on the afternoon shift, working with about 20 people in the same age group(mid-twenties) who really enjoyed closing the bar at least every other night. Our tradition was to buy a 12 pack each at last call, then adjourn to my parents house in a semi-rural area, for some serious beer drinking and other associated hi-jinks. We had a 20x20 concrete pad where there was once a garage, and a 20x20 rat-wall with a dirt floor, the perfect place to have a little campfire, only one pallet at a time! One evening, we got to wondering what would happen if we threw a disposable lighter into the fire. (well they ARE disposble). The results were less than spectacular, just a quiet ball of flame about the size of a basketball. My neighbor said that he had an idea and went to his house and returned with a Butane re-fill can. After throwing the can into the fire, we stood there watching, until, fortunately, someone had the idea that maybe we should go behind the garage in case things got messy. When the can went off, nobody could hear a thing, although the folks down the road did, and realized that the entire fire had opted for a change of venue, and had thrown embers about 20 yards in every direction, including on the garage roof, all of our cars, and starting several small brush fires. Had we not gone to the garage, someone woould be writing this, and we might have been candidates for a Darwin.

Submitted on 12/19/2006

Submitted by: Chuck Brozo
Reference: personal experience

Copyright © 2006 DarwinAwards.com

Graham said:
Maybe Toss: No Self-Selection
Thanks, Chuck. As no-one was injured in this, there are no awards to be offered. However, you and your buddies CAN give yourselves 10/10 for sheer imbecilic idiocy on this one! A butane re-fill can? Wow, that sure was stupid. Thanks for sharing.(ps I did something as a teen that even tops THIS one!)

James said:
Neutral: Personal Account
Since this is a PA, there's no need for self-selection (else there wouldn't be any PA's at all)! I got a few yux out of this story, Chuck! I'm just glad you did this out in the sticks and not in some abandoned city lot where you could have caused the "Great Fire of _________" !

Jack said:
Definitely Keep: Personal Account
More than good enough for a PA. Thanks, Chuck. I got a good giggle out of it!

Chip said:
Definitely Keep: Personal Account
The best Personal Account I have read today. Totally believable and totally funny. Thanks for the story!

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