fire challenge/problem/riddle

[hamstae]

Here is the problem:
You are stuck the west end of an island. On the east end of the island is a fire that spans the entire length of the island, the island is covered in dry, low lying brush and winds are pushing the fire west giving you a rather limited time (say, 2 hours before the fire has engulfed the whole island).
Given you can't go into the water because there are cliffs on the side of the island and jumping would surely kill you (that's ok, there are sharks in the water anyway)
Given you only have the clothes on your back.
How do you survive?

-Alex

 

[SirJethro]

Since the fire is probably burning through the brush pretty quickly, it is probably coming through in a relatively "thin" front. I would probably pull my clothes over as much of my body as possible and sprint through the fire to the scorched (but no longer burning) earth on the other side. Stop, drop and roll. Then I would look forward to a slow death from dehydration or starvation.

 

[hamstae]

nope, it's burning through thinly. When I was first given this riddle that's what I said "run and hope for the best"
Appearently I'd burn up in the process. Fire in about 20-30 feet deep, so running though it might leave you alive...but not for much longer.

 

[Perfection]

It's probobly a low fire so if you can fashion any sort of crude stilts going over that thin line could be much safer.

 

[thestonesfan]

My plan is to wait until SirJ gets ready to run across, then shove him down and run over him so I don't burn my feet.

Just kidding!!

 

[thestonesfan]

Well, if that won't work, you have two hours to dig a trench around yourself and clear it of anything that might burn. Plenty of time. If you lay low, you should avoid the smoke. The problem comes from the fire taking all the oxygen away, but if it's burning fast and you made a big enough area, you should be okay.

 

[hamstae]

Originally posted by Perfection
It's probobly a low fire so if you can fashion any sort of crude stilts going over that thin line could be much safer.

with what will you make these stilts?
Considering you have dry brush to work with.

 

[SirJethro]

Originally posted by thestonesfan
My plan is to wait until SirJ gets ready to run across, then shove him down and run over him so I don't burn my feet.

Just kidding!!

Hehe...if I'm goin' down stoney, you're comin' with me....

Who the hell started this fire anyway? Don't they know anything about deserted island safety????

 

[stalin006]

easy, destroy the plants feeding the fire, it wont be hard since in theres only grass and small bushes.

 

[Perfection]

Originally posted by hamstae
with what will you make these stilts?
Considering you have dry brush to work with.

Dry brush

 

[CivCube]

I would persuade the fire to join me and we would conquer the world.

If not that, tie my clothes up in a long rope and fish for sharks. Then I'd laugh as I throw them to the flames.

 

[thestonesfan]

Stop, drop, and roll my way through it!

 

[stalin006]

mmmh....u place the clothes on ur feet, when the fire comes to u, you jump it, it would only be a couple of meters of fire since is only low brish, then put the clothes bellow the shoe and run like cracy tot eh other end of hte island where the floor is not so hot anymore.

 

[G-Man]

Maybe you can wait at the side of the Island untill the fire comes and then hang from the edge of the cliff untill the fire dies.

 

[Mojotronica]

Build a fire just West of you, then once it dies down stand in the burned-out area when the East fire passes by.

 

[Dralix]

Slash your wrists and use the blood to douse the brush so it won't burn. But I'm sure there's a downside I'm just not seeing.

 

[Ohwell]

I think I'd do all these things above:

- dig a trench (thestonesfan)
- start a fire on the other side and wait for it to die down, then staying there (Mojotronica)
- Destroy the plants (stalin006)

Then I'd pray like **** and hope that God will listen to an atheist...

 

[thestonesfan]

Ok, we're all dead and crispy. What's the answer?

 

[G-Man]

I think Mojotronica is right. A logical solution, and just the kind riddle makers would use

 

[thestonesfan]

Are the clothes on your back a fireproof asbestos suit?