I was helping a friend clear some land, I loaded his forks up On back hoe with brush, sat on the pile on the way to dump piles. I think my s30 fell out, in a brush pile. I can’t find it outside anywhere.
What is the danger factor if it does not get burned ( maybe fell or got crushed into dirt and leaves )
If it is in one of the piles, does the s30 have a built in safety vent of any kind or will it just explode ? I have already searched for it. There are some piles that will not be burned.
I’d be most worried about someone breathing in the vented gas if it is indeed burned. Make sure everyone stands back and is upwind of the smoke.
Im not sure that one flashlight in a bonfire will make much difference, smoke is smoke and is probably not good to inhale it anyway.
Sorry for your loss of a nice light 
The S30 is IPX8 rated, so it’s pretty well sealed. So, yes, it’s likely to pop when set ablaze.
And I agree with Onetrickpony that inhalation of toxic fumes is probably of more concern than anything else.
It was my daily carry light, it is a shame. But it Is replaceable. I was afraid it would send shrapnel out, a lost eye or a scar is not replaceable. How far could this light send pieces of metal? Or would the brush and branches on top keep the pieces from going anywhere dangerous?
I will tell him to stay completely clear of the smoke, but that’s a given, any smoke is bad, especially chemical smoke. It’s a big pile, it will burn very hot and the smoke should all go straight up with the heat.
Thank you all for the quick replies
I disagree, the smoke from a brush pile is mildly carcinogenic, lithium ion battery fires can produce flammable and corrosive gas.
Its sad to lose a good light, but the S30 well-sealed, and basically an un-exploded pipe bomb to vent toxic corrosive gas if it gets exposed to fire in the bush piles.
Yea but because its in the open area and the battery is small you will have enough oxygen to make it safe. Unless you are standing in the bushes when they are on fire then you would have other problems any ways.
I’d be grabbing my metal detector looking for that bad boy, damn nice light, that sucks! :-((
If bad luck strikes, and it turns into a mini S30 sidewinder-missle.
I would think the o-rings would melt out, the pcb would break down, the rubber boot would burn, not likely a “bomb” would happen or shrapnel would fly, 6061 Aluminum is much tougher than the switch and driver pcb and certainly stronger than the o-rings. Worst case scenario the threads on the tail cap would strip and separate, long before enough pressure built up to send it flying like a bullet.
Even a bullet, thrown in a fire, burns off the gunpowder without much violence, comparatively speaking, and without excessive flying shards as there’s no chamber or rifle barrel to contain gasses. The case splits, gunpowder flashes, pretty melodramatic.
Parts could become projectiles- likely head or tail blasting off. But if it’s deep in the pile the brush should block it safely. Near the top of the pile could be different. Either way when the fire gets big enough to cause that problem people will probably be backed away due to the high heat.
So I think all will be safe but do have folks listen for the “pop” so you’ll know whether there’s a chance you can find it in an unburned pile.
You got a friend with a metal detector? I think some equipment rental stores have them. You might just get lucky 
Phil
Well, if you don’t find it, and don’t hear the pop-bang-fizz, a reminder to whoever stays in the area that you lost a time-delayed incendiary that might be buried in one of the unburned brush piles.
That would matter eventually, and it’d be bad luck if it were to vent flame after a long dry spell and nobody paying attention.
I’d say the effort to take apart the brush piles and repile them with a pass using a good metal detector would be — well, expensive for insurance, cheap for responsibility.
Time to ask the driver makers to build in a GPS and a telephone so these things can be found (sigh). Or at least a radio triggered beeper …. Like so many other small electronics …
I see what you mean, but I also should have kept a better eye on my own gear!
I was filling the forks, and bucket and sitting on the pile to hold it while he drove it to the areas to dump.
It was in my back left pocket (like every other day.) and I must have moved just right to have it get pushed out of my pocket when I hopped off. Then he lifts the bucket, and fork attachment and dumps, them packs it down with the bucket.
I will have to go out again and look really well again, maybe I can use a metal detector like you guys suggested.
If it is under leaves, it would help me find it.
I learned my lesson. I need to think about carrying in a holster like my leatherman.
Let us know if you find it, if not make sure everyone around knows the danger
I will let you guys know, he is planning on doing more work this week, so I will be there helping him. I will explain that is an explosive, maybe I can start moving the piles a bit to find it. It’s just very difficult, small trees and the branches off big trees all pressed together.
Ummm… Just to be thorough, when I did this (statute of limitations) the weight of the bullet caused the cartridge to fall nose-down & when the powder went off it blew the cases back hard enough to scare the poo out of the New Guy when he forgot to count how many he’d thrown in. It hit him in the soft part of the cheek & didn’t even leave a bruise — just a skidmark! Bad for an eyeball, not-so-much for bare skin. YMMV (“Your Mutilation May Vary”), of course.
Of course I concur completely with your flashlight failure analysis! Just trying to fill in a hard-to-get data point…
I think Dale’s comments hit it on the head.
If we were talking about a bad battery going kablooey, the progression of events might be different. But in a fire, it’s likely that a lot of components of the flashlight would be compromised before the battery reached the point of internal combustion. Besides the rubber portions burning up, the fire would probably crack the lens.
That does help put my mind at ease. I will still look for it, because it is my responsibility to do all I can to make it safe. I would rather find it squished into the ground and destroyed than not know where it is, or if it could harm some one. I would consider it a blessing to just be able to dispose of the battery.
From your description, plus sense memory of many acres of lot clearing, I’d say you already know as much as can be known here. Especially if you can get a metal detector before Fire Day. Thinking about it, maybe your pocket made a valiant effort to hang on & the light landed near where your feet did when you jumped off…? I’d assume you already checked there. Also, how did you get back, by walking, riding the bucket or riding the frame of the tractor? Maybe a slow, stooped-over walk over that route at midday might help? If it fell under one of the tractor tires… oh, well…
We all share your pain over the loss of a loved one. I do hope you get it back!