Given the giant splotch of charcoal soot on the ground next to the table, my guess would be someone thought their charcoal starter went out, brought it back to the table to investigate and learned that charcoal doesn’t look like it’s burning when it’s at its hotest.
Wood with charcoal on top will indeed burn like that. Note, as another commenter mentioned, the black charcoal stain to the left on the pavement.
Someone had to have placed charcoal or perhaps just plain sticks or whatever on top of the table to start a fire. Noting the light circular ring around the burn area, that suggests the flame was covered by a circular object, such as a pot or pan, and the heat traveled outwards in a circular manner rather than upwards.
Probably some kid with a magnifying glass.
Nothing close to that, the table is under a pavilion and basically always shaded, so magnifying glass had nothing to do with this.
I do wonder if it was an act of sheer vandalism, or perhaps a completely ignorant person trying to cook food on the table. 🤔
Yes, the burn spot is about as big as a pot…
Edit: Shit, look at the more distant ring around it. I do think someone was cooking in a pot or pan on that table.
Given the giant splotch of charcoal soot on the ground next to the table, my guess would be someone thought their charcoal starter went out, brought it back to the table to investigate and learned that charcoal doesn’t look like it’s burning when it’s at its hotest.
Oh hell, you’re right! I didn’t even see that part until your comment 👍
Edit: I still think they cooked something right on the table 🤷
So…lighting the table on fire and placing a pot on top of it?
That’s my best educated guess yeah, probably with a small wire rack over it to support the pot/pan.
I have no idea for sure though 🤷
Wood doesn’t burn that way. Too much heat dispersion and lack of oxygen to keep it going.
Wood with charcoal on top will indeed burn like that. Note, as another commenter mentioned, the black charcoal stain to the left on the pavement.
Someone had to have placed charcoal or perhaps just plain sticks or whatever on top of the table to start a fire. Noting the light circular ring around the burn area, that suggests the flame was covered by a circular object, such as a pot or pan, and the heat traveled outwards in a circular manner rather than upwards.
With fuel stacked on top, yeah that’s possible. I was just referring to the idea that somebody lit the table itself on fire.
That’s just a challenge that requires a couple of big mirrors