Measurements of the atmospheric electric field and conductivity of both polarities are made at the Earth's surface 1.5 kms from a very large flame produced due to a gas well blowout. The results show a single periodic diurnal variation of electric field with a maximum in the afternoons and very low values of electric field during nights. The observation is explained with the help of Vonnegut et al.'s [1995> results that a flame burning under the influence of the fair weather electric field releases negative charge into the atmosphere. Possible implication of the results in explaining the development of inverted dipole in forest fire clouds is discussed. ¿ American Geophysical Union 1996