An intimate blend of staple fibers, and a yarn, fabric, and article of clothing providing surprising arc performance; the intimate blend comprises 15 to 70 weight percent modacrylic fiber, 5 to 27 weight percent para-aramid fiber; and 3 to 80 weight percent meta-aramid fiber, wherein 25 to 100 parts of the meta-aramid fiber contains 0.5 to 20 weight percent discrete homogeneously dispersed carbon particles and 0 to 75 parts of the meta-aramid fiber free of discrete carbon particles, the intimate blend having a total content of 0.1 to 3 weight percent discrete carbon particles.