I’ve been trying to find out more about this because the story doesn’t make any sense:

“he approached the sleeping woman, and then lit her on fire with what was believed to be a lighter. She added the victim’s clothes became fully engulfed in a matter of seconds.”

Clothing shouldn’t just be flammable like that without some kind of accelerant.

https://www.cpsc.gov/Regulations-Laws--Standards/Statutes/Flammable-Fabrics-Act

  • 9point6@lemmy.world
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    3 hours ago

    Homeless people might use layers of all kinds of stuff to stay warm (think newspaper, etc as a common material), they also don’t have the privilege of being able to wash their clothes very often. There could have been all sorts of things that compromise the flame retardancy of the clothing.

    People don’t typically expect to be set on fucking fire while they sleep, so it’s not usually a risk to be concerned about.

    The guy that did this is an absolute psycho

  • Machinist@lemmy.world
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    2 hours ago

    I seem to remember a string of copycat attacks where lighter fluid or gas was sprayed inside a kiosk that contained a cashier or person taking tickets. Think there were several deaths.

    Expect that an accelerant like gas or lighter fluid was used in this case. Doesn’t take much.

    Monstrous thing to do.

  • AriesAspect@lemmy.world
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    4 hours ago

    So we don’t know anything about this thug? Burning homeless people on the subway?!?! Republicans prolly prepping him to be a national celebrity

  • ccunning@lemmy.world
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    5 hours ago

    I don’t know anything about this but in my misspent youth kids would take the regulator off adjustable disposable butane lighters and you could light the lighter and then basically pour the butane out of the lighter.

    Something like that could surely ignite clothing and appear to be “just” a lighter.

  • exu@feditown.com
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    5 hours ago

    It’s pretty well known that polyester and other artificial fibers are very flammable, no?

      • dan1101@lemm.ee
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        2 hours ago

        Maybe something flammable had been spilled on the clothing.

        The only problem with making clothing flame retardant is that is usually done with nasty chemicals that give cancer or other conditions.

        • thebestaquaman@lemmy.world
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          1 hour ago

          I believe cotton clothing is flame retardant, even without extra chemicals. Of course, pure cotton clothing is the more expensive alternative…

          • anon6789@lemmy.world
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            21 seconds ago

            I know wool is. That may be what you are thinking of.

            I found a fiber burn test with wool, cotton, bamboo, and acrylic fibers. The wool singes but doesn’t burn up completely while the others do. I can’t speak to whatever she says in the video as my speakers don’t seem to be working now.

            Wool would be extra beneficial for homeless as well as it retains most of its insulating properties when wet and stays cleaner with less washing than other fabrics.