I carried two or three cases of 30 minutes flares in my trunk for a jillion years. But departmental policy said no flares inside of the vehicle. Fire hazard they claimed. I am like you, I can not see one of those things going off by itself. A lot are a real pain to get lit when you want to. And, if you start swinging one around to scare a critter off, watch out for flying fire. You can easily start a brush fire, and for sure will burn holes in whatever you are wearing. Nylon and some other synthetics will melt right into your skin...