That's scary,it's a miracle he escaped. Some trivia about burning cotton (nothing related to oil fire as in this case). I worked at a gin in the 60s and witnessed cotton catching fire on the way through. Protocol demanded all cotton in the process at time of fire be cleared,sprayed with water then foam and be segregated on open ground at least 150 yards from gin and any combustable material,basiclly sitting in a plowed field with other cotton having been involved in a fire. Cotton in the works was finished processing, baled,and sprayed before moved to field. It wasn't uncommon to sit for weeks without a hint of smoke then re-ignite.