Did elves smoke?

[Macalaure]

I think the flammability of orcs gives a whole new perspective to the Dagor Bragollach. Come to think about it! The Siege of Angband went on for centuries while the orcs kept multiplying. At the end, Angband was severely over-populated with them, causing immense social stress to each individuum.
We tend to think that the sudden fire was a carefully planned device of Morgoth to break the siege, when in fact, the number of orcs unavoidably reached a critical point and made many of them go up in flames. The resulting pressure could not be contained by Angband anymore and instead burned the plain of Ard-galen.
We know that hoards of orcs marched behind the flames. These are the first lucky ones who could save themselves from burning and fled in horror - into the swords of elves and men.

Originally Posted by davem

Could we have misjudged Feanor re the burning of the Ships at Losgar. Maybe some over excited Noldor burst into flame & took the ships with them?

So you mean we should blame Amras for it?