I first read about this in "The Medicolegal Investigation of Death," a standard forensic textbook back in the 1980s. I was surprised to see it mentioned in a scholarly text, but I recall the discussion was pretty noncommittal. Forward by Atty General Ramsey Clark, over 1,300 pp of creepiness, in a new 2006 edition.

Much more fun is Larry Arnold's "Ablaze," written by an apparent believer.

Have fun. . .