The news spread like wildfire through the country, and the principal towns declared for separation.

It was feared that the heresy, if suffered to make headway, would spread like wildfire among the ignorant Russian peasantry, and Archbishop Nikon was sent to Athos to threaten the recalcitrant brethren with severe temporal and eternal penalties should they remain obstinate.

The latter were about to bury him without delay or ceremony, but the gastald or chief magistrate of the city interfered and appointed a public funeral; rumours of his wondrous travels and of posthumous miracles were diffused, and excitement spread like wildfire over Friuli and Carniola; the ceremony had to be deferred more than once, and at last took place in presence of the patriarch of Aquileia and all the local dignitaries.

In darkened dorm rooms across the country, in hushed conversations over a drink at the bar and throughout Internet forums, true, evil Ouija board stories spread like wildfire.

Dockers caught on like wildfire and the whole industry followed suit with Dockers-style pants and shorts, made in khaki and denim.