I thought it'd be a great idea to fill up a cup of gasoline to use as fuel to keep my forge going. I would scoop bits out at a time and throw them on the fire with my hand. I eventually got too cocky and decided to pour straight from the cup, but it leaked, and whenever I set the cup down (about 10 ft away), the drip trail caught on fire, completely exploding in the cup. Since I don't have a good fire extinguisher handy, I spent about an hour trying to put the fire out by hand (stomping on it, placing sheet metal over it, etc.) I set myself on fire like 4 times lol. 

Don't use gasoline.

Thank you for this. It brightened my day, although I apologize that it was at your expense! I think it resonated with me because I’ve done the same to start a fire for a firepit. Always exciting!

When I was kindergarten age, my parents went over to some friends' house for a cookout.  After everyone ate, the adults retired to the living room to tie one on, while we kids went out back, left on our own, unsupervised.  A kid and I thought it'd be a neat experiment to pour gas on the dying coals.  I held the Solo cup while the other kid sloshed gasoline all over my hand while filling up the cup.

I slowly drizzled the gasoline onto the coals.  All it did was smoke a little bit.  Then it burst into flames engulfing my hand.  I at least had the presence of mind to cover my hand with a towel or someone's coat.  Only second degree burns and a newly discovered fascination with fire, which I explored all through my childhood.

My excuse is that I was six years old. 

It’s often the things that go without saying that most need to be said. 

Adrian, good on you for owning this and sharing it. Aside from all the folks that will chuckle at the memories of our own foolishness with fire, you're painting a cautionary picture for others that come later. We can all laugh at the stories when there were no serious injuries... I'm glad you came out okay!

--Larry