Quatloos!

Amid inspirational talk, chanted mantras and shouts of victory at a late-night firewalking event attended by thousands Thursday came agonized shrieks from followers whose soles were scorched by the superheated coals, witnesses said.

At least 21 people were treated for burn injuries after taking part in the crowning event of the first day of a Tony Robbins function downtown, including at least three who went to the hospital, a San Jose fire captain said.

The people who suffered various second- and third-degree burn injuries were among more than 6,000 who attended the motivational speaker's event at the San Jose Convention Center called "Unleash the Power Within."

After the event, which ended about 11 p.m., the crowd walked across the street to the park, where 12 lanes of hot coals measuring 10 feet long and 2½-feet wide rested on the grass.

Jonathan Correll, 25, decided to check out what was going on when "I heard wails of pain, screams of agony." He said one young woman appeared to be in so much pain "it was horrific."

Quixote wrote:Robbins has been doing the fire walking stunt for years without anyone getting burned enough to want to sue. Something went wrong this time. If the coals were not properly prepared, the ash would not provide the insulation that is a big part of why firewalking is possible. Contrary to popular belief, positive thinking will not keep you from being burned. Positive thinking is needed to firewalk because a non-positive thinker is not going to try it at all.

Robbins assured people they would not be burned. If his employees prepared the coals wrong, I don't see how he will escape liability.