Man dies when kilt catches fire?

[Richland]

Massachusetts:
Boston Globe Today:
RIP... Not sure if he was an Xmarker....

An 83-year-old Beverly man has died after suffering severe burns when his kilt caught fire while he was burning leaves and brush in his yard last week.

Arthur Ciampa’s 19-year-old neighbor, Evan Smith, rushed to his aid on Thursday after hearing screams next door, Beverly police said.

Smith found Ciampa rolling on the ground, fully engulfed in flames. Smith put the fire out with his jacket. Ciampa survived with second- and third-degree burns covering about 70 percent of his body, from the knees up.

Ciampa was rushed to Beverly Hospital, and later transferred to Massachusetts General Hospital, said Officer David Costa. Ciampa died on Monday.

Ciampa, a dentist and World War II Navy veteran, was described by his family in an obituary as a “faithful friend and neighbor to many,” whose first priority was always his family.

[auld argonian]

Oh, hell...I knew it was too good to last! Here come the warning labels!

I'm sure we'll find out what the kilt was made of...I understand that the wool doesn't burn but I've never been inclined to test that one out...products liability case, anyone?

Best

AA

[seanachie]

I am from Boston, so I was a little intrigued with this and looked for info in the Salem News http://www.salemnews.com/local/x9304...caught-on-fire and the article says: "Ciampa's daughter told police that her father often wears a kilt-like garment, which she said is essentially a towel that attaches at the waist with Velcro." I am not sure this is what many of us look at as a kilt.

[kilt4beer]

My condolences to the family. What a tragedy.

I'm guessing this was acrylic... I've hard that stuff lights up as if it was soaked in gasoline with just the smallest spark.

Poor fella' was enjoying some yard work and the wonderful smell of burning leaves, smoke blowing up his kilt, and then.....

[tulloch]

Stick to wool, lads. It won't let you down!

[vmac3205]

Stick to wool, lads. It won't let you down!

Amen!!

[Canuck of NI]

I would tend to agree that the thing seems to have been acrylic or something similar. However, no matter what material the kilt was made from, there always could have been flammable liquids involved. And for the record I would rather have a flaming kilt on than flaming trousers.

[McFarkus]

Probably one of those cheapie bath towels with a kilt printed on it.

[tulloch]

Flaming Kilt - isn't that Drambuie, Dewars and a lit match?

[ForresterModern]

If he was using an accelerant like gas or kerosene he might have gotten some on his "kilt", in which case it would not matter what it was made of. Otherwise it was probably acryllic.