Let’s look at three stories of similar theme, but with very different outcomes.

First, since you all know my love of all things old, I give you Clara Cowell.  She just turned 102, and to celebrate the occasion, she gave up smoking.  Wild guess on how long she had been knocking them back?  82 years!  The reason:  her family thought the falling ash would catch the house on fire.  Her family actually supported her habit of 3 cigarettes a day.  They have been working for her so far, along with daily cup of tea spiked with whiskey.  They don’t make them like this anymore.

In Oklahoma, a very different scene transpired.  In an unsuspecting neighborhood, some people saw smoke coming from the window of a house.  Police and Firefighters were called, and they discovered the burning body of Danny Vanzandt.  This wasn’t routine, as there was no fire damage to the house.  All that was left were the smoldering remains on Mr. Vanzandt.  The Sheriff thinks it may be Spontaneous Combustion.  How crazy would that be?

Finally, in other strange fire news, an 11 year old cancer survivor was almost burned to death in her hospital bed.  Apparently the hand sanitizer did not mix well with a burst of static electricity.  She survived the incident, but not without 3rd degree burns.