Wild fires in the Highlands of Scotland

[Tobus]

Some time during the day, between the game of Frisbee and the football kick around a bottle gets broken. That year, next year, the year later - the fire starts.

Broken bottles cause fires?

[cessna152towser]

Broken bottles cause fires?

The glass focuses the sunlight on the one spot on dry vegetation causing the plant matter to spontaneously combust.

[Tobus]

Interesting. I can't recall that ever being a problem here in Texas, where we get much sunnier, hotter, and dryer than the UK. I understand the theory fine (I used to burn things as a child with my magnifying glass), but I've just never heard of any accidental fires being caused by broken bottles.

Learn something every day!

[Mike_Oettle]

Experienced firefighters seem to agree that glass is often the cause of fires.
But broken bottles also damage people – and in South Africa there is a mindset that seems to dictate that glass must be smashed after use.
Regards,
Mike