ABSTRACT
On Monday, 6 December 2004, in Indian Head, Washington, the United States, unknown arsonists put a complete new up-market housing development to the ‘torch’, burning 26 houses in one spectacular conflagration! It was a £5 million bonfire that was deliberate, and organised, changing both the landscape and society in one swift and totally destructive act (Independent on Sunday, 13 December 2004). But what was its meaning?
