A Man Tossed a Cigarette Into a Ship’s Cargo Hold—and Accidentally Set a Whole City on Fire

In Texas City, Texas, a discarded cigarette ignited a devastating inferno in the 1947 ship explosion, which killed nearly 600 people. The disaster stemmed from surplus military explosives mistakenly sold as fertilizer, highlighting the catastrophic risks of mishandled hazardous materials. This incident underscores the critical importance of proper storage and disposal of dangerous substances, serving as a grim reminder of how easily negligence can lead to catastrophic consequences.