Hurst, however, was convinced that he had solved the mystery: when firefighters had blasted the porch with water, they had likely spread charcoal-lighter fluid from the melted container.

NEWYORKER: Trial by Fire

Though he cited the container of lighter fluid in his report, he made no mention of the grill.

NEWYORKER: Trial by Fire

Court testimony from witnesses confirmed that there had been a grill, along with a container of lighter fluid, and that both had burned when the fire roared onto the porch during post-flashover.

NEWYORKER: Trial by Fire