Strange to read that it started from within the container. I wonder how? I didn't know cocoa was flammable. Maybe now they'll want to ban hot chocolate........... Boxcab E50
If the coa coa has lots of that plastic white milk substance, that is really oily and flamable. When I take cadets out camping, they love to throw the whitener into the fire and watch if flare.
It probably got a little wet and spontaniously combusted. Most fine powders will do that in the right ciscumstances. I'm not sure anout it being non-hazardous though. I'm sure the firefighters on scene are still trying to figure out how to get the smell out of their bunker gear! [ 14. March 2003, 04:39: Message edited by: cthippo ]
A fine dust such as flour, the cocoa, powdered sugar, etc, will explode if shaken and a spark or flame, or even a red hot piece of metal is introduced in a confined vessel. One of the experiments we ran in Science class was to punch a hole at the bottom of a paint can, force a rubber tube into the hole and mount the end so a paper funnel would sit up-right in the end of this tube. Ordinary ladies face powder was poured into the funnel. A candle was lit and stood up right to one side of the funnel, then the paint can's lid was pressed on tightly. As soon as the lid was on the teacher had one of us blow hard on the tube, and pinch it off quickly! It went off with a BANG! bulging the can sides, and blowing the lid some fifty feet in the air! Caution, if you try this at home, make sure you pinch off the tube as soon as you blow, or it can blow some dust and fire back out the tube into your mouth! [ 14. March 2003, 05:53: Message edited by: watash ]
Watash, I think you should send that paint can trick in to "Fear Factor"...like to see how it looks on T.V. regards / Mike
