Where's The Fire? Trivia Quiz

Answer: 451

Fahrenheit 451 is the title of a famous Ray Bradbury novel in which an oppressive government employs "Firemen" to burn books which are banned.

Answer: Carbon Dioxide and Water Vapor (CO2 and H2O)

Incidentally, scientists consider both CO2 and H2O vapor to be greenhouse gasses. They are released from more complex hydrocarbons when things like wood and paper burn.

Answer: The ratio of fuel to air mixture

You can also use the flame's color to infer what the fuel is by using spectrum analysis and a little bit of chemistry knowledge.

Answer: Kennedy

The eternal flame on Kennedy's grave was an idea forwarded by First Lady Jackie Kennedy, who had seen a similar device in France atop that country's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. She wanted people to know that her husband gave his life for his country, just like the many "Unknown Soldiers" commemorated by the flame at the Arc de Triompe in Paris.

Answer: Elmo

St. Elmo comes from an Italian corruption of St. Ermo, which itself was a corruption of St. Erasmus, who is considered to be the patron saint of sailors. St. Elmo's Fire, usually occurring during violent storms, was/is considered a good omen by sailors.

It turns out that this superstition has a strong basis in truth; The phenomenon occurs most often as a storm breaks down, a fact known by ancient sailors and confirmed by modern meteorologists.

Answer: Johnny Cash

The song was written by Johnny's wife June Carter Cash and Merle Kilgore.

Answer: Zoroastrianism

Zoroastrianism was founded by the prophet Zarathushtra, born near the Oxus river in Persia (modern day Iran) sometime around 1600 BC. His name means "One of the Golden Light", and priests of the faith keep a sacred flame burning in each temple to honor him and his teaching. Fire is also central to the all-important Zoroastrian new year celebration known as Navruz, a festival celebrated during the spring equinox.

Answer: firefly

The firefly's yellow-green glow is caused by a chemical called luciferin and is about 1/40th as intense as the light from a candle. The firefly's flashing abdomen is used to attract mates, with males flashing about once every five seconds, and females roughly every two.

Answer: True

Although most modern forest fires are caused by human carelessness and can be destructive, certain ecosystems have evolved to require the occasional natural fire, usually caused by lightning. Such fires purge dead and diseased vegetation, clearing the way for healthy new growth. Some evergreens even have seed cones that only open up to begin their growth cycle when exposed to flame!

Answer: Philadelphia

The Union Fire Company was founded in Philadelphia by Benjamin Franklin and started with thirty members, with Isaac Paschall as its first official volunteer. Although Boston had already been the home of similar organizations, known as Mutual Fire Societies, for some twenty-five years, Boston was not the birthplace of the volunteer fire company as we know it today.

The Mutual Fire Societies were conceived solely for the protection of their own members and their property. Franklin did credit those groups as the inspiration for his idea, but he was the first to implement a volunteer fire company for the general public good.