The Starter Fluid method does indeed work for many applications. I have personally experienced the "fire ball" side of this method as well. It's wonderful when it works. Horrific when it don't!
Make sure your extinguisher is handy and really works. Mine didn't when I needed it most. One time when I was working on a motorcycle (bad carb it turned out to be). The carb leaked just a little fuel around the intake manifold. When the engine back fired (not quite enough starter fluid, very tricky to get it right) it ignited the little puddle of fuel, not good. Blazing saddles in nothing flat, the dang fire extinguisher DID NOT WORK! Trying to put the fire out I dislodged the fuel line to the carb, only later did I figure out THATS what was feeding the fire that was growing at an alarming rate!
I ran got a sheet off the bed, through it over the bike, got the water hose and kept soaking the sheet so it wouldn't burn. It kept the fire under control long enough for it to eventually snuff itself out. Piece of cake, go for it....
Keep a sheet and a water hose handy, it does a remarkably good job if all else fails.