Where the Fire of Religion Burns

In Bedford Gardens, a 600-unit apartment complex in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, there have been 35 fires in the last few months. A serial arsonist? No, it's just people adhering to their mainstream religious faith, one that prohibits them from extinguishing the flame of a candle or a gas stove for days on end. OK, so occasionally a few kids die fiery deaths (three went to meet their maker just yesterday), but at least the grownups have the great satisfaction of knowing that they were following the teachings of an ancient book, however dangerous and impractical. Hosannah!

(For more religion-induced fire hazards in the heart of New York, resulting in five people who suffered bad burns, see here.)