Seems to me that the flash point of Greek Fire components would be several hundred degrees lower than ship planking or even fabric sails. Some day the records of ships' stores will turn up and I think the question will be answered.
BTW, what was your conclusion about the ability of banded caterpillars to predict winter severity? Must be better than the Weather Channel - you could toss bones and come closer.
Regarding the wooly worms, my preliminary conclusion is that there is no correlation between color variation and winter weather.
I still have to complete my research by raising fall catipillers through the winter and to allow adults to develop, mate and raise a new generation. There seems to be a possibility that the color variation might be a function of the growth stages of the caterpiller. This growth and color variation must be observed first hand.
Alas, I was able to collect none this fall. Maybe next year.
Unlike Jr Hi, an adult science project can drag out for years and years.