St Elmo`s Fire is defined as an ungrounded luminous corona visible around an object or person in humid pre-thunderstorm conditions. It is caused by a build-up of electro-static electricity and is named after an early Christian Italian bishop, Saint Erasmus (abbreviated to Sant Ermo) and adopted as patron saint of Mediterranean sailors.
It was first reported having been observed around the masts and rigging of sailing ships.
It has been blamed for igniting the fire which destroyed the Hindenburg in 1937 and possibly the York Minster fire of 1984.
It can manifest itself as an optical phenomenon called the Andes Glow where a mountain peak can glow at night, sometimes for several hours at a time.
Hope that`s enough to be going on with.
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[ 04 January 2002: Message edited by: Chrysippus ]</p>