Ken,
disclaimer first: I personally have never used an alcohol stove, not being fanatical about the small weight saving and clean burn issues.
Factor (A): "As I was doing this some grass outside my
cleared area caught fire."
Is part of the problem also due to Factor(B): more difficult to see alcohol flames which might catch something on fire, or Factor (C) the (too)lightweight contraption gets knocked over. Of course that could happen with some of the top heavy pocket rocket gas stoves as well.
Factor A : will never go away (how much cleared area in a windy, 10% humidity zone is 100% foolproof?)
Factor B : Maybe if alcohol suppliers (or campers) put in color additive, then the risk of not seeing flames could be reduced.
Factor C: will never go away, especially with my big feet around.
Harvey
