I think that was common practice in the Yukon back in the day, too, Hikermor. According to a program I watched hosted by Ray Mears, in Nordic countries it was common practice to leave a match sticking out of the box, match-head first, in case someone had little dexterity from the cold.

Justice may take years, but it often does come. I recall that some cops were recently sentenced for murders they committed in NOLA during Katrina. Disaster is not the time for all semblance of civilization to flee, nor is it permissible.