[meteorite-list] Fire caused by meteorites.. Is it possible?

[Chris Peterson]

I've never heard a credible account of a fire started by a meteorite 
fall, and on theoretical grounds, there's no reason we would ever expect 
a meteorite to be hot enough to start a fire. Of course, that doesn't 
discount a secondary effect, such as a meteorite causing a fire by 
puncturing a propane tank, severing a power line, or any number of 
improbable but possible events.

Certainly, a meteorite that strikes while still traveling at a 
hypersonic speed could dissipate enough energy to start a fire, but such 
events are exceedingly rare, and would be expected to leave very obvious 
evidence (such as a crater).

Chris

*******************************
Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatory
http://www.cloudbait.com

On 8/27/2012 1:52 PM, André Moutinho wrote:
> Hello all,
>
> I am investigating a case here in Brazil where something has fallen from the sky and caused fire on a 500 m2 area.
> Witnesses heared a loud buzz and soon noticed smoke and fire on a nearby mountain. Some work have been done on the
> local by the fire department and nothing was found related to aircraft or any other kind of device.
>
> Does anyone know any similar case caused by a meteorite? These are not common events related to meteorite falls.
>
> Thanks
> Andre Moutinho
> IMCA 2731
> http://www.meteorito.com.br