# Weird burn story
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-burn-story/482241
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [January 21, 2009, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-burn-story/482241 "2009-01-21T01:33:48Z")
**Posts on this page:** 11
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)
#### Post date: [January 21, 2009, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-burn-story/482241/1 "2009-01-21T01:33:48Z")
How could this happen? The [AP reports](http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/01/20/us/AP-ODD-Bizarre-Burning.html)
> [@](#):
>
> KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Investigators are baffled as to how a man suffered second- and third-degree burns inside his apartment – even though the only sign of a fire was a candle in the bathroom. Knoxville Fire Department crews found the 56-year-old victim inside his apartment bathroom Monday afternoon with third-degree burns to his face and second-degree burns to his hands.
>
> Officials say they knocked on the door of the unit at Cagle Terrace Apartments, and went inside when they heard someone moaning.
>
> The man, who was not identified, was later taken to a burn center for treatment.
>
> Fire officials say their investigation is ongoing.
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### Author:  [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)
#### Post date: [January 21, 2009, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-burn-story/482241/2 "2009-01-21T02:05:30Z")
He was applying something flammable to his face, with his hands, and got too close to the candle.
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### Author:  [@dactylic\_hexameter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dactylic_hexameter)
#### Post date: [January 21, 2009, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-burn-story/482241/3 "2009-01-21T02:09:03Z")
aftershave maybe? or some kind of (alcohol-based) astringent?
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### Author:  [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)
#### Post date: [January 21, 2009, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-burn-story/482241/4 "2009-01-21T02:36:06Z")
Spontaneous human combustion?
Although, my money’s on freshly applied aftershave, then attempting to blow out the candle.
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### Author:  [@WF\_Tomba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WF_Tomba)
#### Post date: [January 21, 2009, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-burn-story/482241/5 "2009-01-21T02:36:27Z")
A classic example of something unexplained but not inexplicable.
He could have stuck his face and hands in the candle for some reason, or the burns might actually be chemical burns, or he might be the victim of an attack, or he might have passed out while leaning over a hot stove . . .
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### Author:  [@seodoa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seodoa)
#### Post date: [January 21, 2009, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-burn-story/482241/6 "2009-01-21T02:44:46Z")
I’m also going to chime in with aftershave/astringent/flammable hygiene product, especially given that the burns were on his hands and face. Apply product to face with hands, get to close to candle (blow it out/light it/etc), suffer horrible flaming ball of hurt.
ETA: Lots of people don’t realize how dangerous everyday things can be. Just the other day I had to admonish my friend for applying his hairspray right next to a gas heater. :smack:
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### Author:  [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)
#### Post date: [January 21, 2009, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-burn-story/482241/7 "2009-01-21T15:27:23Z")
He had something flammable on him and the candle ignited it. You find cases like that in the news occasionally.
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### Author:  [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)
#### Post date: [January 21, 2009, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-burn-story/482241/8 "2009-01-21T15:38:49Z")
Freebasing?
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### Author:  [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)
#### Post date: [January 21, 2009, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-burn-story/482241/9 "2009-01-21T16:44:58Z")
I have a hard time imagining a common product that might _easily_ cause third degree burns.
Even pure ethanol, liberally applied - you’re still going to end up with superficial burns. Hell, when I was a stupid kid we used to ignite ourselves for fun all the time, and then bat it out.
Maybe it was inexplicably mixed with a gel product to make a sort of home-brew napalm? Or he was somehow stupefied and made no attempt to put the flame out?
As for freebasing… has anybody freebased with ether in the last twenty years? I think the ubiquity of crack has sufficiently met the public’s freebase cocaine needs and wiped out Richard Pryor syndrome. Besides, there would be no mystery there, since it would be hard to hide the associated gear while your face was on fire.
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### Author:  [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)
#### Post date: [January 21, 2009, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-burn-story/482241/10 "2009-01-21T16:53:58Z")
It’s a fairly sketchy story. For all we know, he could have burned himself somewhere, and then gone home.
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### Author:  [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)
#### Post date: [January 21, 2009, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-burn-story/482241/11 "2009-01-21T17:05:35Z")
> [@Ellen\_Cherry](#):
>
> It’s a fairly sketchy story. For all we know, he could have burned himself somewhere, and then gone home.
[This _very_ slightly more detailed story](http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2009/jan/19/authorities-investigating-cause-mans-burn-injuries/) says that firefighters were there to respond to a smoke detector alarm in the unit, and entered when they heard moaning – so it seems fairly clear that the accident happened on the spot.