No miracle in fire's dying

- 1 February 1988

A fire that recently burned a marquee at a Christian camp “inexplicably” died because of the plastic roof — not a miracle of God.

A Massey University scientist, Mr Bryan Wenmoth, has the enlightened explanation of how the arson attempt mysteriously extinguished itself at the Christian Outreach camp at Naenae on Friday night.

The $20,000 tent had canvas walls, but a polyvinyl chloride roof.

“Plastics with high level of chlorine in their molecular structure are self extinguishing. The plastic itself doesn’t support the fire - as soon as you take away the source of the heat, the fire dies,” Mr Wenmoth said.

This explained why the Tire engulfed the canvas walls of the marquee but stopped at the roof. Mr Wenmeth is a lecturer in production technology at Massey, and for five years was manager of a PVC laboratory.

“What concerns me is that it Was being touted as some inexplicable miracle, when there is a perfectly scientific reason.” he said.

He was surprised also and concerned about the reported reaction of firemen.

In reports, the camp leader said firemen were amazed that the fire had extinguished itself by the time they arrived, telling the leader “this stuff goes up like a roman candle.”

“Certainly there are other plastic materials used in tents that would burn very well, but one of the good things about making tents out of PVC material is that they don’t burn.” Mr Wenmoth said.

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