accident or not?

jordygal

The other night I went to work a night shift, leaving the house around 7.15, when I came home the following morning I found a wooden planter next to my back door had been burnt, and obviously put out, as large amounts of water on garden. I spoke to my neighbours who said at 4.15 am they smelt smoke so looked out of window to see the fire and ran down and put out the fire over the fence, no one saw anything suspicious.
Thing is I had a run in with my ex before I left for work, him shouting he wishes I was dead, now my first thought was it was him, but I smoke out the back and had a cig at 7.00pm and put the end out and on the floor near planter, now I'm going mad thinking he did it, or could I have started a fire 9 hours later by accidentally dropping ash in the planter. I know it dosn't really sound feasable that it could start a fire so long afterwards. have reported it to the police who are coming out later to speak to me. but my house could have burnt down and now I'm really worrried.

Raksha

Was there compost in the planter? That can smolder and burn for a long time Why not have a bottle of water to drop your ciggie ends in?

DUTR

Trouble is without witness's and proof etc then it is difficult to progress from there, not all ex's are bad people and not all are paranoid. People do make such comments without really meaning it 'heat of the moment'.

Annisele

jordygal wrote: »

could I have started a fire 9 hours later by accidentally dropping ash in the planter. I know it dosn't really sound feasable that it could start a fire so long afterwards.

I think it sounds completely feasible that you started the fire with your cigarette. A very quick google shows this (cigarette smouldered overnight), and this (showing cigarettes plus peat is very bad).

Without knowing your ex, I'd say the cigarette is a far more likely culprit than him. But if he has a history of violent behaviour I might think differently.

tyllwyd

Well, you know that you were smoking near the planter, it's been really hot and dry and I'm guessing the planter was dried out possibly with old dry plants in it? It doesn't seem impossible that it could have started smoldering and then the fire built up - maybe a gust of wind - until it was bad enough for the neighbours to notice. If you didn't see your ex near the planter, he has no history of starting fires, and you know that you did smoke there earlier, I'd say it points towards it being your fault, not his.

Make-it-3

You've no proof it was your ex and only know you dropped a cigarette there some hours earlier which may have smouldered for a good while before igniting properly, or a 101 other possible or improbable reasons for it.

Just be thankful (and thank your neighbours) that they spotted and acted so quickly. If you have a doubt it could be your own actions then be more careful in future about where you put out your cigarettes - or better still give up the dangerous habit for the sake of your health as well as your pot plants.

fluffnutter

Why not mention it to your ex and see whether he looks shifty?