While I was signing in students at this year’s Basic Belay Field Trip, a somewhat shell- shocked-appearing student arrived and asked if she could borrow some slings. She said that hers had melted in a house fire the previous evening. Things are pretty rushed at this time of day so I just got her some slings (thanks to you who replenished the lost and found supply) and didn’t ask any questions.

    matches
    photo by
Jim Farris
Later in the day when my curiosity got the better of me, I sought out this student (sorry I didn’t get your name) to hear “the rest of the story.” The previous evening, she had all of her gear spread out in her living room and was diligently going through the check list of everything that she would need the next day. When she checked that standard orange waterproof match container with waterproof matches (that we all have), she thought that maybe she could get just one more match in it. As she was pushing it in, the whole bunch of matches burst into flame, and the container quickly became a ball of fire. As it started to burn her hands, she dropped it, so that it ignited the carpet. The fireball then raced toward her couch. At this point she sprung into action, using her newly minted Basic Climbing Course Handbook to smother the flames. She was amazed at the speed at which the whole thing took place. I guess that I wouldn’t have gotten much sleep either after experiencing that. Now – for those of you who occasionally cook in your tent – play out this scenario in there! Be careful.