History Main / VaporTrail

* ''Series/FatherBrown'': In "The Lair of the Libertines," the killer punctures the petrol tank of the motorcycle being used to leave the hotel. When it runs out petrol and stalls, the killer ignites the trail of petrol with a ReusableLighterToss. The bike explodes, barely missing incinerating Lady Felecia and Mrs [=McCarthy=].

* ''Series/MidsomerMurders'': In "Crime and Punishment," the killer douses a barn in petrol and then leaves a trail of petrol leading away from the barn. The killer then ignites the trail to set fire to the barn.

[[JustForFun/IThoughtItMeant Nothing to do with]] a lack of a [[http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/paper_trail paper trail]] where there ought to be one, or with the vapor trails from an airplane's wings. Also not to be confused with either the Music/{{Rush|Band}} [[Music/VaporTrails album]] or the Crystal Method song entitled ''Vapor Trails'', or the ShootEmUp also named ''Vapor Trail.'' And definitely not to be confused with Visible Odor.

[[JustForFun/IThoughtItMeant Nothing to do with]] a lack of a [[http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/paper_trail paper trail]] where there ought to be one, or with the vapor trails from an airplane's wings. Also not to be confused with either the Music/{{Rush|Band}} [[Music/VaporTrails album]] or the Crystal Method song entitled ''Vapor Trails'', or the ShootEmUp also named ''Vapor Trail.''

* In ''Film/RaidersOfTheLostArk'', Toht ignites a trail of spilled booze on the bar in an attempt to incinerate Indy. The flame burns its way along the entire length of the bar and Indy only just manages to get his head out of the way in time.
** Happens by accident during the scene with the flying wing due to a series of minor "oops"es. Indy unchocks the wheel of the flying wing to use the chocks as a weapon against a GiantMook, and the plane starts to turn in place and its wingtip punctures a fuel truck. Next, Marion uses the plane's machine gun turret to keep Nazi reinforcements at bay and stuff catches fire. The fuel pouring out of the truck eventually reaches the blaze, Indy rescues Marion and they run for cover, and then the whole airstrip explodes.

* In the ''Series/CSIMiami'' episode "Dishonor," the killer ignites the gasoline-soaked victim by dropping a lit match into a trail of gasoline.
* ''Series/{{CSINY}}'': In "Second Chances," the VictimOfTheWeek is doused in gasoline when he is run over by a car and the fuel tank punctures in the collision. The trail of gas is then ignited by a cigarette discarded by a passerby (who is on his way to commit another crime) and burns back to set fire to the victim.

[[folder:Film--Animated]]

[[folder:Film--Live Action]]

[[folder:Live Action TV]]

[[JustForFun/IThoughtItMeant Nothing to do with]] a lack of a [[http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/paper_trail paper trail]] where there ought to be one, or with the vapor trails from an airplane's wings. Also not to be confused with either the Music/{{Rush}} [[Music/VaporTrails album]] or the Crystal Method song entitled ''Vapor Trails'', or the ShootEmUp also named ''Vapor Trail.''

* ''Manga/ShonanJunaiGumi'': Eikichi accidentally blows up Nakajo's car when a line of gasoline between it and the [[EveryCarIsAPinto motorcycles he'd blown up by driving one into the others]] catches fire.

* Done by John [=McClane=] to a jet in ''Film/DieHard2''. It's worse in this case, as the Mythbusters proved that jet fuel is actually really hard to light in a liquid state - especially in a snowstorm. [[RuleOfCool Yippee ki-yay, motherfucker.]] They would have crashed without fuel after a while anyway.

* This is how Porter exacts his final vengeance on all the bad guys in the movie ''Film/{{Payback}}''. "You were right not to trust me."

* Done by John [=McClane=] to a jet in ''Film/DieHard2''. It's worse in this case, as the Mythbusters proved that jet fuel is actually really hard to light in a liquid state - especially in a snowstorm. [[RuleOfCool Yippee ki-yay, motherfucker.]]

* ''Series/ThePunisher2017''. In "Home", [[IHaveYourWife Sarah and Zach Lieberman]] are handed over in exchange for Frank Castle and David "Micro" Lieberman surrendering themselves. To deter them from trying anything, Sarah and Zach are made to wear a jerry can of fuel each, which is then punctured, leaving a trail of fuel as they walk towards Frank and Micro. When Homeland Security intervene someone lights the trail, but Micro just tears off his jacket and extinguishes the flame.

* Done by Film/JamesBond to a fuel tanker in ''Film/LicenceToKill''.

** ( Happens by accident during the scene with the flying wing due to a series of minor "oops"es. Indy unchocks the wheel of the flying wing to use the chocks as a weapon against a GiantMook, and the plane starts to turn in place and its wingtip punctures a fuel truck. Next, Marion uses the plane's machine gun turret to keep Nazi reinforcements at bay and stuff catches fire. The fuel pouring out of the truck eventually reaches the blaze, Indy rescues Marion and they run for cover, and then the whole airstrip explodes.
* An exploding aircraft in ''Film/{{Speed}}''.

* Happens accidentally to one team of racers in ''Film/TheGumballRally''. A muffler falls off a car and bounces under their van where it punctures their extra-large fuel tank. Another motorist then tosses a cigarette out his window, which ignites the trail of leaking fuel, which catches up to the van and...BOOM!

* Happens accidentally to one team of racers in ''Film/TheGumballRally''. A muffler falls off a car and bounces under their van where it punctures their extra-large fuel tank. Another motorist then tosses a cigarette out his window, which ignites the trail of leaking fuel, which catches up to the van and...BOOM!

* Happens by accident during the scene with the flying wing in ''Film/RaidersOfTheLostArk'' due to a series of minor "oops"es. Indy unchocks the wheel of the flying wing to use the chocks as a weapon against a GiantMook, and the plane starts to turn in place and its wingtip punctures a fuel truck. Next, Marion uses the plane's machine gun turret to keep Nazi reinforcements at bay and stuff catches fire. The fuel pouring out of the truck eventually reaches the blaze, Indy rescues Marion and they run for cover, and then the whole airstrip explodes.
* ''Film/GangsterSquad'': When Cohen's goon attempt to ambush the squad in Chinatown, they open the fuel tank in the truck the squad are converging on. One of the gangsters then tosses his lit cigarette into the pooling fuel.
* In the opening scene of ''Film/TheUsualSuspects'', a dying Keaton lights a trail of fuel leading to some tanks stacked on the deck of the ship, only for the fire to be casually urinated on by the as-yet unrevealed BigBad. He shoots Keaton after some brief dialogue, then casually drops a lit cigarette into the fuel to set it [[FieryCoverup and the ship itself alight]].

* In the ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' novel ''Discworld/{{Snuff}}'', Sam Vimes soaks a wooden tower in brandy and then leaves a trail of brandy leading away from it. He ignites the tower by dropping his cigar in the trail of brandy.

* In ''ComicBook/{{Tintin}} in the Land of the Soviets'', the streak of flame almost catches up with Tintin's car. Then the fuel runs out. Definitely not a case of TruthInTelevision: The fuel-air vapor in the empty tank would actually be a lot ''more'' flammable than liquid fuel.

* Happens in ''DC Retroactive: Franchise/{{Batman}} - The 90's'' when a cabbie drops a lit cigarette into a pool of gasoline leaking from his wrecked cab.
* Manhunter does this in ''Detective Comics'' #440. When Damon Nostrand attempts to run him down, Manhunter drops underneath the vehicle and rips the fuel tank open with a knife. He then tosses a lit match into the trail of fuel the car is leaking, which ignites and blows up the car.
* In ''Chaos!'' #3, Red Eye blows up a gas station by tossing his still-lit spliff into the pool of gasoline leaking out of the wrecked pumps.

* In ''[[Franchise/{{Batman}} Detective Comics]]'' #44, Harvey Bullock does a ReusableLighterToss to ignite a trail of fuel leaking from a wrecked vehicle: creating an explosion that allows Detective Yip to fake her death.

* Done by Film/JamesBond to a fuel tanker in ''Film/LicenceToKill''.

* Happens accidentally to one team of racers in ''Film/TheGumballRally''. A muffler falls off a car and bounces under their van where it punctures their extra-large fuel tank. Another motorist then tosses a cigarette out his window, which ignites the trail of leaking fuel, which catches up to the van and...BOOM!
* In ''Film/TheStupids'', the pursuer shot Stanley's gas tank. Stanley proceeded to light the trail on fire, igniting the pursuer's car. [[TheDitz Of course, he had no idea what was going on]].

* Spells the end for the racist redneck in ''Film/FinalDestination4''.
* An exploding aircraft in ''Film/{{Speed}}''.
* In ''Film/XMenOriginsWolverine'', Wolvie ignites a spark with his claws. The fire travels up the trail of fuel leaking from Agent Zero's downed helicopter. [[StuffBlowingUp Kerflooey]].

* During the diner fight in ''Film/IronMan3'', Tony splashes a trail of fuel towards Agent Brandt and then throws the canister of fuel at her before igniting the trail with red hot remains of his handcuffs.

* In ''Film/RaidersOfTheLostArk'', Toht ignites a trail of spilled booze on the bar in an attempt to incinerate Indy. The flame burns its way along the entire length of the bar and Indy only just manages to get his head out of the way in time.
* In ''Film/EvenLambsHaveTeeth'', Katie and Sloan soak the Pastor of gasoline and leave a trail leading away from him. They toss a lit match into the trail so he can see his fiery doom approaching him.

* Tested (and busted) on ''Series/{{Mythbusters}}''.
** A trail of gasoline ''can'' be set on fire, but if the vehicle is moving faster than about five miles an hour, the flame will never catch up with it, and even if it did, the gas tank won't explode.
** Fuels ''other'' than gasoline, such as diesel or jet fuel, just can't be ignited if lying in a pool on the ground.
%%* ''Series/{{Farscape}}'' did this one too.
%%* ''Series/AlarmFuerCobra11'' uses this occasionally.
* In the ''Series/{{Angel}}'' episode "Redefinition," Angel sets Darla and Dru on fire at the end by smoking a cigarette and throwing it in to a trail of gasoline.

* ''Series/{{CSINY}}'': In "Second Chances," the VictimOfTheWeek is doused in gasoline when he is run over by a car and the fuel tank punctures in the collision. The trail of gas is then ignited by a cigarette discarded by a passerby (who is on his way to commit another crime) and burns back to set fire to the victim.
* ''Series/TheDoctorBlakeMysteries'': At the start of "A Good Drop," an arsonist spreads a trail of sump from a drum in the back of his ute, then ignites it with a ReusableLighterToss.

[[folder:Newspaper Comics]]
* Happens to Measles' car in ''ComicStrip/DickTracy''. For added drama, Tracy was trapped clinging to the underside of the car at the time.
* ''ComicStrip/ModestyBlaise'': Modesty is caught in an accidental one after her jeep overturns in "Walkabout."
[[/folder]]

* On the WesternAnimation/DonaldDuck cartoon "The Flying Jalopy", the villain cuts the fuel line of Donald's airplane and lights the trail in midair, which Don then tries to outrun.

* ''Series/{{Farscape}}'' did this one too.
* ''Series/AlarmFuerCobra11'' uses this occasionally.
* In the ''Series/{{Angel}}'' episode "Redefinition", Angel sets Darla and Dru on fire at the end by smoking a cigarette and throwing it in to a trail of gasoline.
* In the ''Series/CSIMiami'' episode "Dishonor", the killer ignites the gasoline-soaked victim by dropping a lit match into a trail of gasoline.
* ''Series/FatherBrown'': In "The Lair of the Libertines", the killer punctures the petrol tank of the motorcycle being used to leave the hotel. When it runs out petrol and stalls, the killer ignites the trail of petrol with a ReusableLighterToss. The bike explodes, barely missing incinerating Lady Felecia and Mrs [=McCarthy=].
* ''Series/TheFlash2014'': In "Crazy For You", sparks from a fallen power line ignite a trail of gasoline leaking from a crashed car.
* ''Series/MidsomerMurders'': In "Crime and Punishment", the killer douses a barn in petrol and then leaves a trail of petrol leading away from the barn. The killer then ignites the trail to set fire to the barn.
* ''Series/{{CSINY}}'': In "Second Chances", the VictimOfTheWeek is doused in gasoline when he is run over by a car and the fuel tank punctures in the collision. The trail of gas is then ignited by a cigarette discarded by a passerby (who is on his way to commit another crime) and burns back to set fire to the victim.
* ''Series/TheDoctorBlakeMysteries'': At the start of "A Good Drop", an arsonist spreads a trail of sump from a drum in the back of his ute, then ignites it with a ReusableLighterToss.

* Happens in MusicVideos for Music/{{Radiohead}}'s "Karma Police" and Music/ArcticMonkeys' "Florescent Adolescent".

* ''ComicStrip/ModestyBlaise'': Modesty is caught in an accidental one after her jeep overturns in "Walkabout".