Madrid's landmark Windsor office tower was gutted by fire the night of Feb. 12, and much of downtown Madrid remains closed off by authorities. The fire (apparently caused by a short-circuit) resulted in only seven injuries, none serious--but several of the building's top floors have collapsed, and it is feared the entire 30-story tower could implode unless it is quickly demolished. (EITB24, Spain, Feb. 14)

There is nothing to indicate that the Windsor tower suffered from anything apporaching the notoriously fragile, unorthodox construction practices at New York's late World Trade Center. Yet this development will presumably do nothing to slow the relentless carping of the conspiranoiacs that fires never cause steel buildings to collapse, and that the implosion of the Twin Towers is evidence of explosives secretly planted in the buildings.

I await your hate mail, conspiranoiacs.