• Question: What is spontaneous combustion and how does it happen?

    Asked by dyaskelly to Ben, Clare, Ezzy, Mario, Sam on 13 Mar 2012.
    • Photo: Elizabeth Pearson

      Elizabeth Pearson answered on 13 Mar 2012:

      It’s when something suddenly catches fire. There are reports of people suddenly catching fire, but most of them tend to be hoaxes or due to something no one thought of at the time (like light focusing or a cigarette)

    • Photo: Clare Burrage

      Clare Burrage answered on 18 Mar 2012:

      It’s when a fire starts without something from outside giving the spark that starts the fire. It happens sometimes in hay and peat, where bacteria are causing fermantation and giving off heat. If the heat can’t escape this can be enough to start a fire.

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