Perhaps the initial references were to large quantities of baled wool. I know from classes I've taken on producing/selling wool that it can spontaneously combust in certain conditions. Here's more info, from a shipping insurance company:
RF Self-heating / Spontaneous combustion Oil content: 10 - 20% (wool grease) Raw wool is an animal fiber. Animal fibers (burnt, wet or damp) are assigned to Class 4.2 (Substances liable to spontaneous combustion) of the IMDG Code and ADR. The high content of wool grease makes greasy wool even more highly flammable than combed top and it may be easily set alight by sparks, cigarette ends etc.. Its high keratin content also makes it liable to self-heating/spontaneous combustion, particularly through the action of moisture and fats/oils. It should not be stowed in a hold/container together with foodstuffs and animal feed or with animal or vegetable fats/oils. Oil-saturated wool quickly succumbs to self-heating/spontaneous combustion and may burn for weeks without being discovered. It is also important not to stow greasy wool over barrels containing wool grease, as there is a risk of self-heating. http://www.tis-gdv.de/tis_e/ware/fasern/wolle/wolle.htm FWIW Ellen To stop mail temporarily mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: set nomail To restore send: set mail
