Why Does Pouring Water on a Burning Wax Bomb Create a Larger Flame?

[wk1989]

I remember playing with these things when I was small and today I happened to stumble upon this page describing how to recreate what I had done. However, I never actually figured out why it works and my memory is a bit fuzzy since it's been so long since I tried doing it again. So if you know how it works, please explain it. Basically, I don't understand why you would get a huge flame when you pour water on the burning wax?

http://naturallight.wordpress.com/2007/01/15/how-to-make-a-wax-bomb/

 

[chemisttree]

water is converted to steam with great increase of volume. Increased volume atomizes molten wax, still burning, causing significant... effect.

You'll put your eye out.