# Set ablaze during a concert "lighter wave", statistics?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/set-ablaze-during-a-concert-lighter-wave-statistics/658188>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 13, 2013, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/set-ablaze-during-a-concert-lighter-wave-statistics/658188 "2013-05-13T00:02:01Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Apocalypso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Apocalypso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apocalypso)\
**Post date:** [May 13, 2013, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/set-ablaze-during-a-concert-lighter-wave-statistics/658188/1 "2013-05-13T00:02:01Z")

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So the wife and I are watching a television show where the characters go to a concert and are shown doing the “lighter wave” during a slow song. Every single time I see people doing this I can’t help but wonder how many people have caught on fire doing this. Weird, right? What the hell is wrong with me? And are there any statistics out there listing how many people have not-so-spontaneously combusted during the “torch songs” (:p)?

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**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\
**Post date:** [May 13, 2013, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/set-ablaze-during-a-concert-lighter-wave-statistics/658188/2 "2013-05-13T00:11:22Z")

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free bird has singed feathers for a reason.

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**Author:** ![JBDivmstr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b4bc9f/32.png) [@JBDivmstr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JBDivmstr)\
**Post date:** [May 13, 2013, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/set-ablaze-during-a-concert-lighter-wave-statistics/658188/3 "2013-05-13T03:10:08Z")

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Hmmm… Good question.  
I’ll bet there have been at least a few cases of people having their hair caught on fire, or at least singed.  
I know for a fact that some of the cheaper butane lighters, if turned up all the way and left lit for too long, can cause a ‘blowtorch’ like malfunction, and suddenly produce a flame 6"-8" or even longer. :eek:  
When that happens, even if you let off of the gas release, it will still continue to burn (although, not as high of a flame.)

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**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\
**Post date:** [May 13, 2013, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/set-ablaze-during-a-concert-lighter-wave-statistics/658188/4 "2013-05-13T04:42:28Z")

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_raises hand sheepishly_

The Scene of the Crime: Alpine Valley Music Theater, Elkhorn, WI  
The Year: 1988  
The Band: Cheap Trick  
The Song: The Flame (I know, I know…)  
The Victim: '80’s hair  
The Culprit: A Bic Lighter  
The Accessory to the Crime: Way too much Aqua Net

I was (as was she, I suppose) exceedingly lucky in that only a few strands of hair burned up. But holy cats, does hairsprayed hair burn fast! Two little lines of flame went “zip!” up the back of her very poofy permed hair, all the way to the top, until they suddenly snuffed themselves out. Thank gods.

I’m glad to see Kids These Days are using their cellphones as lights instead.

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**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\
**Post date:** [May 13, 2013, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/set-ablaze-during-a-concert-lighter-wave-statistics/658188/5 "2013-05-13T05:26:47Z")

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> [@JBDivmstr](#):
>
> Hmmm… Good question.  
> I’ll bet there have been at least a few cases of people having their hair caught on fire, or at least singed.  
> I know for a fact that some of the cheaper butane lighters, if turned up all the way and left lit for too long, can cause a ‘blowtorch’ like malfunction, and suddenly produce a flame 6"-8" or even longer. :eek:  
> When that happens, even if you let off of the gas release, it will still continue to burn (although, not as high of a flame.)

This reminds me of something that happened in the 70’s. I was at a midnight showing of the Rocky Horror Picture Show and someone brought in an actual torch for audience participation.