Speculation about the mechanism of thermal breakdown of oil-impregnated paper

According to Time magazine, the dreadful summer of 1955 will be remembered for a long time to come in the Eastern United States. Beginning in July, the region was withered by drought and a heat wave, the worst on record, with temperatures in the 90's for a large part of the month. Then Hurricanes Connie and Diane flooded the Northeast, killing more than 250 people and causing property damage well in excess of $1.5 billion (1).