 Item number, SCP-295. Object Class, Euclid. Special Containment Procedures. SCP-295 is to be contained within a 50 meter by 50 meter concrete room, with all surfaces coated with flame retardant material. All personnel entering and exiting containment must comply with level 3 contamination screening. Three flame retardant exposure suits are to be maintained on the premises and are required for any and all testing involving SCP-295. Feeding will occur once per week and consist of a meal of 20 kilograms of naturally grown pine wood, harvested near the Site-19 facility. Description. SCP-295 is a number of caterpillars, resembling centimeter epilace in appearance. A single specimen of SCP-295 is capable of creating an unidentifiable substance, which has several unique qualities attributed to it. SCP-295 possesses similar physical attributes to a common caterpillar, with a notable exception being SCP-295's incredible speed when in pursuit of sustenance. When flammable material is introduced into SCP-295's environment, it will quickly move to attempt to consume it. The substance produced by SCP-295, hereby known as SCP-295-1, is a viscous fluid that possesses natural bioluminescence of variable intensity, averaging at around 150,000 lumens. The intensity fades over time, but sufficient heat is capable of renewing its incandescence. However, the danger lies in its other quality, which is its ability to cause violent combustion in any flammable object it comes in contact with. All matter destroyed in this manner leave no ash or other byproducts behind, although an increase in mass has been observed in specimens of SCP-295 after combustion. A notable exception is living animal matter, which SCP-295-1 is incapable of affecting in all circumstances. SCP-295 is capable of reproduction given sufficient matter to combust, or when a specific mass has been attained. When this occurs, SCP-295 will pupate, forming a shell of dense carbon with a similar molecular structure to coal. Once a week has passed, both the pupa and the specimen will combust, the ashes reform into two additional caterpillars, after which the process begins anew. Occasionally, only one specimen of SCP-295 will reform from the resultant ashes, rather than a pair. These ashes will not always reform immediately, and can remain inert. Ashes left on personnel's clothing can reform later, and further spread SCP-295's population. SCP-295 was discovered in Ukraine, after a series of improbable and volatile forest fires had reduced a large swath of forests into barren wastes. Agent Krupp, who had family in the area, noted that the fires had left not a single thing in their wake. When Dr. Krupp was dispatched to investigate, he found a complete lack of life and vegetation, with the exemption of a species of caterpillar that was not local to the area. What had alarmed him more, however, was the sudden destruction of his clothing and belongings by a swarm of starved SCP-295s. After several attempts and more than a few changes of clothing, SCP-295 was brought to site 19 and safely contained. Addendum 295A Despite months of regular feeding, the number of specimens have neither declined nor have they increased since being contained. The cycle of reproduction has stayed consistent, with the majority of recorded combustion resulting in two new specimens. How the population has kept itself in check is unknown at this time. Addendum 295B It's possible that there are still wild specimens of SCP-295 out in the world, considering the trouble we have containing it in the lab. Any attempts to contain populations of SCP-295 in the field are to be made on location, with the intent to isolate and terminate. Note, this stuff has some serious potential for weaponization, if we could get enough of it out of the little worms. Find a way to carry and dispense it, and you'd put napalm to shame. Agent B Addendum 295C Experiment Log 2951A Experiment Log of Dr. Kondraki Testing Practical Uses of SCP-295-1 Date undisclosed Experiment 1 Human Consumption Testing Materials 5 ml of SCP-295-1 Procedure Class D personnel give an SCP-295-1 to ingest. Result Subject reported mild heartburn and nausea, but no serious adverse effects observed. Subject's digestive system temporarily operated at 25% additional efficiency. Experiment 2 Usage as a portable source of light Materials 20 ml of SCP-295-1 Glass tubing, rubber grip, lighter Procedure Glass tubing filled with SCP-295-1 Reinforced by rubber grip Result Device produced sufficient light to completely illuminate an area of 31 meters squared at 16,145 lux for several hours. Applying a lighter to the surface of the glass relit the solution completely. Experiment 3 Usage as an incendiary device Materials 200 ml of SCP-295-1 Glass globe Procedure Globe filled with SCP-295-1 and thrown into wooden test structure. Result All material that came in contact with SCP-295-1 instantly combusted, as expected. Remaining structure of the building burned abnormally quickly from secondary conflagration. Only 20% of the structure's initial mass remained after testing. Note, immediately following the conclusion of the test, approximately 56% of captive SCP-295 specimens began to pupate. Dr. Kondraki Experiment 4 Usage as lighter fluid Materials 100 ml of SCP-295-1 One bag of consumer-grade charcoal, mid-range coal grill, two beef burger patties. Procedure SCP-295-1 poured onto coal while beef patties are prepared. Result Data Expunged Note, I cannot fathom the lack of sense this required. Consider your position as an assistant terminated and your security level revoked. I hope that gives you something to think about in between skin grafts. Dr. Kondraki Addendum 295-D Experiment Log 295-1B Experiment Log of Agent T Testing Practical Uses of SCP-295-1 Experiments Overseen and Approved by Dr. W- Date Undisclosed Experiment 1 Usage as lighter fluid Revised Materials 1 ml of SCP-295-1 500 g consumer-grade charcoal, mid-range coal grill, two 100 g beef burger patties. Procedure Coals arranged in a standard rough cone. SCP-295-1 applied to three coals. Tester wore standard silver suit heat protection gear. Result The treated coals combusted almost instantly, as expected. Remaining coals ignited very quickly. Patties cooked in approximately half expected time. Cooked patties, when tested in laboratory, showed no evidence of any unusual components. Note, as expected, the secondary fires produce only normal combustion products and effects. And to whoever came up with the first lighter fluid test, you people are supposed to be research assistants. Perhaps next time you should do some research when you design a test. Dr. Kundraki let you off easy. Agent T Experiment 2 Possible Application for Rescue Work Materials 1d class personnel, 1 steel girder, 1 ml of SCP-295-1 20 g thermite paste. Procedure Class D's leg trapped under girder. A line of thermite paste was placed on the girder upslope from the pinned leg. SCP-295-1 applied to the thermite paste. Result The thermite ignited and combusted almost instantly, severing the girder with almost no splatter or spark. The upslope section fell to the ground. Water sprayed over the severed end, steamed only slightly and briefly. D-class was not harmed. Note, just what I'd hoped for. The thermite released its energy and burned through the steel it was actually touching, but the reaction was too fast for much heat to transfer to the rest of the girder. This could be a very useful intrusion technique, in addition to its rescue applications. Agent T Experiment 3 Effects and Oxygen Deprived Environment Materials 1 filled 10 liter aquarium, 1 lead weight, 1 100 g untreated oak block, 1 non-flammable syringe, 1 ml of SCP-295-1 Procedure The oak sample was weighted down in the aquarium, then injected with SCP-295-1 Result Over a period of approximately 2 seconds, the oak burned to charcoal. Note, interesting. Apparently there was enough air in the channels to support the very limited combustion. Next time, I'll try waterlogged wood. Agent T Lesson Complete If you missed the previous orientation, go watch SCP-294, The Coffee Machine, right now. Or for the complete course, watch this playlist.