A Summer Firepot, a ‘Safe’ Label, and Two Life-Altering Explosions

New York Times ^ | June 11, 2011 | DAVID M. HALBFINGER

[Squantos]

All in....

[Gilbo_3]

heheheh...as much as i would like to play 'poor mans napalm'...ive got small kids running around...

that keeps me from 'claymores in the foyer' and 'pungi [sp] pits' as well...

[NFHale]

“small kids”

Speaking of small kids - I had my son and daughter shooting .22s as young as 5. The looks of absolute HORROR I received from some people (you know the type - utter idiots under any circumstances) when they heard that were priceless. (and I think I told them JUST to get their reaction anyway...I’m rotten like that - hahah!).

They grew up with firearms in the house, like I did. so they learned to respect them at an early age.

I think that it depends on the kids, too. Some mature faster than others, I suppose. I know some kids I would NEVER trust around a firearm, versus my own.

[hiredhand]

Ditto here... after my last overseas job courtesy of DoD we were PCSd to a place in Alabama. The kids were 8, 5, and 4. We shot .22s mainly.

What's under most people's kitchen sinks is more dangerous than firearms. You can "safely" unload any firearm. The same can't really be said for a can of oven cleaner. :-)

[Gilbo_3]

yesSirs...baby girl is 4 1/2, and ive got an ‘exciting’ summer planned fer her...napalm, molotovs and claymores, not so much, but .22s and splodin melons are on the agenda...8^}

[hiredhand]

She’ll have fun! Make sure you put up targets that “move” when she hits them. :-)

[archy]

The two accidents, less than a week apart, involved the same product: a gel fuel for ceramic firepots, scented with citronella to ward off insects on hot summer nights, and purchased from Bed Bath & Beyond.

The fuel is marketed by the retailer as FireGel, “the Safe Pourable Gel.” But survivors and witnesses to the two blazes likened it to a Molotov cocktail without so much as a wick.

I suspect a BLEVE. Besides, the original Finnish Molotov Cocktails didn't have a wick.