Lessons learned Today:

1. Those fondue pots, the ones with the screw-on handles?

Not so great, when handle loosens itself and the pot swivels on the handle and scalding water splashes all over the place.

2. What they say about hot water and kitchen flame is true. A splash of water makes even the flames from fondue fuel (alcohol) go crazy

3‘ Because alcohol flames are blueish, it can be very hard to see if the burner has actually lit.

4. A tiny fire can spread rapidly through dry grass, even if its middle of summer and there’s not much of it.

5. There is isn’t even time to call out for help when you are trying to bat out flames that are snaking through the grass in different directions. Some are heading toward the screen tent, and some will soon be past the boundary of the campsite..where the cars are.

6. Wind fuels fire

7. The mat used to cushion my knees, makes a great tool to smother flames. And smothering flames to deprive them oxygen really does work!

As I’m soothing the raw burns on my wrist and top of my hand, I survey the damage done to the corner of my favourite pop-up screen tent. Yet, I have a list of things to be thankful for.

1. I was not trapped in that tent when this thing got out of hand.

2. My long hair was tied back and I was not wearing loose flammable clothing

3. I have a large bottle of Aloe Vera Gel.

4. There is a coffee shop nearby that should be opening about now.

In conclusion: I feel fortunate to have come through this with only a few (painful) blisters and a tent to repair. I never would have thought that fondue fuel had the potential to be so dangerous. I’ve used it for several years, and considered it safer than propane because there are no pressurized containers and hoses involved.. And, after all, people cook with fondues in their homes all the time! After this experience I will use the gel-form instead of the liquid. And I won’t be using pots with screw-on handles again, no matter how pack-able they may be.