Story Archive

Baby You Can Light My Fire

When combing through the rubble after a house fire, firefighter John Bartlett found just one thing had survived uncharred: a diaper. He realized that the super-absorbent material in the disposable swath was responsible, and worked for five years to refine it into a gel that can be used to make things virtually fireproof. Bartlett, who is still a Palm Beach County, Fla., firefighter, says his invention can hold back flames for up to 30 hours. (RC/AP) ...That really is an improvement: most diapers can only hold back flames for 30 minutes.
Original Publication Date: 09 May 1999
This story is in True’s book collections, in Volume 5.

Is There a Problem on This Page? Let Me Know using the Help button lower right, and thanks.

I believe humanity is held back by the lack of thinking. I provoke thought with examples of what happens when we don’t think, and when we do. This is True is my primary method: stories like this come out every week by email, and basic subscriptions are free. Click here for a subscribe form.


Search for:

Category: