# Is there enough oxygen at the top of Mount Everest to start a fire? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Tags:** science-math\ **Created:** [June 1, 2025, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-enough-oxygen-at-the-top-of-mount-everest-to-start-a-fire/1019071 "2025-06-01T14:20:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2025, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-enough-oxygen-at-the-top-of-mount-everest-to-start-a-fire/1019071/21 "2025-06-03T03:49:37Z")
When I wrote the OP, I assumed that some of the wood would be kindling. ---
**Author:** ![whc.03grady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a6a055/32.png) [@whc.03grady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whc.03grady)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2025, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-enough-oxygen-at-the-top-of-mount-everest-to-start-a-fire/1019071/22 "2025-06-03T04:00:49Z")
I’m pretty sure modern fuel injection has rendered this a non-issue since as early as the mid-80s but I can state from personal experience that driving a carbureted car to the top of Pike’s Peak is no picnic. Unless you’re prepared to re-jet carbs, alter the timing, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2025, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-enough-oxygen-at-the-top-of-mount-everest-to-start-a-fire/1019071/23 "2025-06-03T09:24:08Z")
Small, old, piston-driven airplanes which predated fuel injection and computer engine management got around that by having an in-cabin control allowing you to adjust the carburetor while in flight. Airplanes have considerable altitude changes in a short time period in every flight. Cars not so much, making it less needful to have a mixture control in the car although it wouldn’t surprise me if at some point somebody tried installing one. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2025, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-enough-oxygen-at-the-top-of-mount-everest-to-start-a-fire/1019071/24 "2025-06-03T10:40:34Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Wood and matches according to the OP. Not that hard with a high enough ratio of matches to wood. According to the table on Wikipedia > **[Limiting oxygen concentration](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limiting_oxygen_concentration)** > > The limiting oxygen concentration (LOC), also known as the minimum oxygen concentration (MOC), is defined as the limiting concentration of oxygen below which combustion is not possible, independent of the concentration of fuel. It is expressed in units of volume percent of oxygen. The LOC varies with pressure and temperature. It is also dependent on the type of inert (non-flammable) gas. > Limiting oxygen concentration for solid materials > The effect of increasing the concentration of inert gas... you are still going to need that oxygen, and there does not seem to be enough, without even taking into account pressure and temperature more accurately. ---
**Author:** ![Plutonium\_Chef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/plutonium_chef/32/11211_2.png) [@Plutonium\_Chef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plutonium_Chef)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2025, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-enough-oxygen-at-the-top-of-mount-everest-to-start-a-fire/1019071/25 "2025-06-03T11:16:49Z")
Time for an experiment to settle the question! 1. Obtain access to a hypobaric chamber. Equip it with a fire pit, firewood, kindling, Class A fire extinguisher, etc. 2. Obtain a self-contained breathing apparatus, so you don’t pass out from smoke inhalation or hypoxia. 3. Obtain a confederate to operate the chamber and rescue you, if needed. 4. Enter and seal the chamber. Don the breathing apparatus. Start video recording. 5. Reduce the chamber pressure to 300 mBar. 6. Attempt to kindle a fire in the pit, with running commentary. 7. Repeat #6 until you get a fire, or you run out of matches or kindling. 8. Extinguish the fire, if any. 9. Remove experimental apparatus and ashes from the hypobaric chamber. 10. Post the video on YouTube. Man, I miss _Mythbusters_! How is it they never tested this? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-enough-oxygen-at-the-top-of-mount-everest-to-start-a-fire/1019071.md?page=1)