I think Jim has it, ignition usually doesn't pop back through the carb.
I used to have a 1954 Velocette 350cc motorbike, a single cylinder four stoke engine with magneto ignition.
Anyway, the petrol tank had a small leak at the rear, but so small I never did anything about it.
There was no air filter on the carb, just a bell mouth, and no ignition key either - you just turned the petrol tap on, kicked it up, and away you went.
So one morning, ready to go to work, I kicked the bike over and it back fired -
THROUGH the carb and bell mouth, setting fire to the leaking petrol at the rear of the tank (and rather close to bits you were fond of)
Luckily there was a guy close by cutting the grass, so I ran and grabbed handfuls of grass cuttings and used those to extinguish the fire.
I then tried again, and merrily continued to work.