Does It Survive Forest Fire?

[satprof]

Alphapuzzle cryptic clue for today.

[emmie]

ashes??

[emmie]

don't think it's that...

[emmie]

ash???

[satprof]

Emmie, ash seems fine, but neither of the 3-letter possibilities starts with a letter common enough to be likely to be A. (That’s not to say the setter isn’t playing games, but A is usually one of the most frequent letters.)

[emmie]

stump?

[1ozzy]

Ash

[emmie]

if it's not ash then i am at a loss on this one.

[1ozzy]

Satprof needs to don his thinking cap

[emmie]

he does.

[satprof]

The third letter of one of the three-letter possibilities is H (given) so it looks as if the setter could be up to tricks.

I’ll print out the puzzle & see where it gets me.

[emmie]

good thinking, hope it's Ash...

[satprof]

Well done, emmie. I'm sure it is 'ash', despite the shortage of the letter A. The puzzle seems to be working out without any impossible words, so you get the gong.

I expect mouseymick will give more details later on.

[emmie]

thanks for the gong...

[Sunnychap]

You certainly rise early and source the paper much before me emir. ASH well thought out and fits into the completed puzzle with a Q in the 1 Accross

[Sunnychap]

Sorry Emmie, spell check changed your name

[emmie]

i don't source the paper, but do like satprof post each day, yes i get up early to post GMEB thread.

[mouseymick]

Ash .. 3,13,7 … Q is 2 and F is 26 … hope that helps. Enjoy your day:)