The fire is spreading across the web today, as the folks behind the third version of Firefox attempt to enter the Guinness World Records for the most software downloaded in 24 hours.

Firefox 3 became available at 10 a.m. PDT and already the download site, www.spreadfirefox.com, is becoming bogged down as hundreds of thousands of people try to get in on the action.

I'm trying to download it right now, and I keep getting timed out as the server can't respond to all of us at once. Perhaps trying to download around lunch hour wasn't such a hot idea.

The new version, which has been out in beta and RC form for a few weeks, is being touted as a faster and sleeker upgrade from Firefox 2. Among other things, it boasts faster response times (JavaScript in particular) and a better autocompletion in what is being labelled as "the awesome bar".

Around the world, browser geeks have been waiting for this day to celebrate this latest incarnation of their favourite browser with Firefox download parties.

Due to some miscommunication (or lack of communication) many of these parties were organized around a download time of 12 midnight. When they found out the actual start time wasn't for ten more hours, well... they were disgruntled.

The Firefox forums and other web geek hangouts are buzzing both with hype over the new version and with gripes over Mozilla's bungling of the affair.

Despite the timing issue, the downloads are going strong and as of right now (I finally got through to the server) the count is more than 1,880,000.

As this event will be going into the Guinness World Records, downloaders can also grab a certificate PDF to print off and proudly display their proof of participation. Well, they could if they could ever get the site to load... actually if they'd stop downloading those, maybe I could get the site to load!