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The Sims The Urbz: Sims in the City The Sims 2 The Sims 3 The Sims 4 This article is/was a featured article.


Fire
Fire bursting
Fire spreads rapidly. This is a very serious problem in The Sims.

Fire!

Fires can break out in Sims' homes, burning furniture and objects. In general, fires can start from cooking accidents, using objects that use fire, machinery malfunctioning, or magic. Fires cannot start on community lots but can start in owned businesses.

A fire can spread from its original tile and will eventually burn objects, but if it is extinguished early enough, the objects can be saved. Urns or tombstones cannot be burned. Fire makes the build and buy modes unavailable, so Sims or objects cannot be moved out of the way, and fire alarms can't be bought.[n 1] In The Sims, fire can travel between floors when a staircase catches fire (including spiral staircases, even metal), which then can ignite other objects on the above floor near the staircase.

A fire can be extinguished by any Sim, but Sims can also die in a fire. It is therefore better to call a firefighter. If a fire alarm is in the same room as the fire, the fire department will automatically be called. In most games, the Sim extinguishing the fire will "generate" a fire extinguisher to put out the flames. However, in The Sims 2 for consoles, a fire extinguisher must be bought before a Sim can put out a fire and is offered for purchase in buy mode. The player can also go to Classic Mode and put out the fire using the action.

TS3 WinMac Fire message

The fire message in The Sims 3.

In The Sims and The Sims 2, a Live PIP is displayed to alert the player to a fire. In The Sims 3 and The Sims 4, a notification will be used instead. If the game camera isn't focused on the home lot, the notification will also have a button to bring the camera to the lot.[TS3]

In The Sims 2, The Sims 4, and The Sims 3 for console, the player will not be able to save the game when there is a fire. However, in The Sims 2: Open for Business, the player can save an owned community lot during a fire and the owner can leave, although fire will automatically break out at the same spots whenever a Sim visits the lot. In The Sims 3, a warning will appear if the player tries to save when there is a fire. In The Sims 4, players cannot enter Manage Worlds or build mode during a fire.

How fires start[]

Fire (The Sims 2) Icon

The most common way for a fire to start is through a cooking accident. A Sim is more likely to start a fire when cooking a meal for the first time, or one that they have just enough cooking points to be able to make. Even a Sim with 10 cooking points may start a fire when cooking a very difficult meal like lobster thermidor or Baked Alaska. Also, Sims can set themselves on fire when lighting the flambé on a Baked Alaska or Crêpes Suzette.

Fires can happen in a few different situations:

The Sims[]

Firework launcher and rugs

A fire caused by a Sim launching fireworks indoors.

  • A Sim cooks or grills with little or no cooking skill.
  • A Sim or object is placed too close to a lit fireplace.
  • When using the rocket set, a rocket may hit a Sim or object and catch fire. Also, if the rocket was launched indoors, a fire will always start.[TS:LL]
  • The failed "Fire" or "Leisure" wish from a genie.[TS:LL]
  • Lighting a fireplace in the same room as an oxygen bar will set it ablaze, whether Sims are using it or not.[TS:S]
  • If the Enchant spell backfires, whatever the Sim was trying to enchant will catch fire.[TS:MM]
  • If the Clone Drone charm backfires, the cloned Sim will catch fire.[TS:MM]
  • A Sim was able to go through spontaneous combustion without warning. This was uncommon and was claimed to be a bug in the very first version of the game, and was supposedly fixed by a patch. Sometimes the fire does not appear, although it would still mention that the Sim died from a fire in the family photo album.[1]

The Urbz: Sims in the City[]

  • Using the Firecracker Dance or Blow Flame can cause a fire.
  • In the Cozmo Street district, a Sim watching another Sim juggle fire sticks may spontaneously catch fire.
  • In the Gasoline Row district, a Sim using the grill has a chance of catching fire as soon as they open the grill.

The Sims 2[]

Rug on Fire

Placing a rug in front of a fireplace is not a good idea.

The Sims Castaway Stories[]

  • When a volcano erupts, fireballs can rain down from the sky, causing a fire.

The Sims 3[]

Fire starting

A low cooking skill will result in this.

  • Cooking on a cheap stove with a Sim that has a low cooking skill level.
  • Tinkering on a cheap computer with low Handiness skill.
  • Leaving food that is still being cooked on a stove or grill, allowing the food to catch fire.
  • Placing objects too close to a fireplace.
  • Blowing out candles on a birthday cake.
  • Failing to properly complete a science experiment (Mad Scientist, Science career track).
  • Burning something nearby, with the pyromaniac trait.
  • Getting electrocuted while being singed.
  • Starting fireworks indoors. When using them outdoors, sometimes fireworks will fail to launch.[TS3:WA][TS3:KPST][TS3:S]
  • Triggering a fire trap inside tombs.[TS3:WA]
  • Failure while inventing at the workbench.[TS3:A]
  • Failing to use the blowtorch while sculpting metal.[TS3:A]
  • Falling meteor, which may cause fire on impact.[TS3:A]
  • Detonating an object.[TS3:A]
  • Using a unicorn's Ignite ability.[TS3:P]
  • Performing a bad jump on the pyrotechnic jump obstacle. [TS3:P]
  • Performing "You Are Special" sing-a-gram, which has a chance for the Singer to catch fire.[TS3:ST]
  • Using Fire Blast spell as a witch.[TS3:SN]
  • Eating jelly bean. There is a 3% chance a Sim will catch fire when eating one.[TS3:SN]
  • Eating spicy food and getting "Too Spicy" moodlet. This may randomly start a fire.[TS3:SN]
  • Chance of spontaneous combustion if Sim's temperature is too high.[TS3:S]
  • Stomping a lit carved pumpkin. There's a 25% chance a Sim will catch fire doing this.[TS3:S]
  • Daring a Sim to "Divide by Zero".[TS3:UL]
  • Failing to use the firewalk pit. [TS3:IP]
Info information icon
Note
In The Sims 3, fires are much more likely to start when using cheap fireplaces, grills, or stoves. Leaving a fireplace burning for more than a couple Sim days is not advised, as it increases the chance of the object catching fire, unless they standardly have or have been upgraded to no longer catch fires.

The Sims 4[]

Crash

A rocketship crashing

  • Cooking on a cheap stove with a Sim that has a low cooking skill level. If one of the first meals your Sim ever makes is grilled cheese (especially on cheaper end stoves) a fire is imminent. This is more likely to occur when your Sim first moves into a household.
    • Using a pizza oven or a waffle maker at a low or medium cooking skill level.[TS4:HCH]
  • Also, if even a high skilled cooking Sim is cooking or grilling and there are ceiling or wall decorations like paintings, shelves or exhaust fans too close to the grill/stove, this will almost always cause a fire.
  • If there is a lit fireplace with wooden furniture or a rug close to it and a Sim goes nearby it to warm themselves up, there's a chance this Sim and other Sims near this one will catch on fire and the rug thats near it will be reduced to ashes.
  • If a Sim with a low rocket science skill uses a rocket ship, there is a chance they will crash the ship and catch on fire.
    • Sabotaging the rocketship or stuffing fruit into the exhaust port will guarantee a crash when landing.
  • A child Sim experimenting on the science table for too long.
  • Failing the bottle fireball bar trick on a mixology bar.
  • Having objects (food, books etc.) near a blazing campfire.[TS4:OR]
  • Using the transformation ray from the science career may light the object on fire instead of transforming it.[TS4:GTW]
  • There is a small chance that a Sim will catch on fire after consuming the Rose Perfume serum.[TS4:GTW]
  • A malfunction while creating an invention with the Invention Constructor.[TS4:GTW]
  • Having wooden objects or rugs near a lit incense holder.[TS4:SD]
  • Smashing a Jack-o'-lantern that has not been extinguished.[TS4:SS]
  • Using a DJ booth for too long may set it on fire. This can be prevented by upgrading the "Advanced Heat Sink" option.[TS4:GT]
  • Triggering a wrong switch inside Omiscan Temple may cause the Sim to catch fire.[TS4:JA]
  • Lighting fireworks indoors, especially in small rooms with wooden floors.[TS4:CL]
  • In The Sims 4: Snowy Escape. Leaving the Best Friend Forever Space Heater on for too long (Especially on wooden floors) This can be prevented by installing the Fire Safe Upgrade.[TS4:SE]
  • Using a dryer with a full lint tray. This can be prevented by installing the Lint-Less upgrade.[TS4:LDS]
Info information icon
Note
As of The Sims 4 patch 103, fires can start on rental lots in addition to residential lots.


Sims' reaction to fire[]

PartyFire

Panicking Sims.

Fire in the room causes a Sim's needs to drop quickly, and Sims will panic, stopping all actions to run towards the fire and complain, becoming completely useless. While the player can cancel the "Fire!" action and tell the Sims to move away from the fire, they are likely to ignore that command and go back to the fire. Sims who have learned Fire Prevention[TS2:AL] or have the brave trait[TS3] can be partially immune to this. In The Sims 3, Sims are smarter and give the player more time to choose an action, although choices are limited as many interactions are disabled. In The Sims 2: Apartment Life, The Sims 3: Supernatural and The Sims 4: Realm of Magic, evil witches, warlocks and spellcasters will not react to fires that they start.

Sims will receive a negative memory if they witness a fire.[TS2][TS3] If the fire occurred at home, they will get a memory for that, even if they were not home at the time of the blaze.[TS3]

Babies and toddlers[n 2] cannot die by fire. Many adults will autonomously carry babies and toddlers out of the house if they spot a fire. Sims who live in an apartment will autonomously get out of their apartment until the firefighter arrives. If the apartment has no fire alarm, the landlord will eventually call the fire department.[TS2:AL]

The Sims 2[]

In The Sims 2, Sims observing a fire will lose hygiene rapidly, and if they catch on fire, all of their needs will begin to drop very quickly, eventually resulting in death. Other Sims can extinguish a Sim who is on fire, but it is impossible to tell a Sim that is on fire to do anything else. However, in The Sims 2, Sims who have not realized that they are on fire can be told to extinguish the fire, though they will eventually realize they are on fire, and panic.

LOLXD

A Sim on fire, in The Sims 3.

Many Sims will have a fear of fire, and lose aspiration points if they see one.[TS2][TS2C]

The Sims 3[]

In The Sims 3, if the house of the family that is being played catches fire, neighbors may take notice and will stand outside of the house acting worried. Additionally, if a house next door catches fire and a firefighter[Ambitions] goes to put it out, the other playable Sims on the active lot will run outside and panic as though the fire is on the home lot, and basically do nothing else aside from panicking. This can be considered as an annoyance to some players.

Sims with the daredevil trait may wish to be involved in a fire, whereas coward Sims will faint if they see a fire.[TS3][TS3C]

In The Sims 3, fire will no longer cause Sims' needs to decline, though a burning Sim will receive the "On Fire!" moodlet. If not extinguished within 1 game hour (30 minutes if the Sim was already singed; 45 minutes if it's a mummy) the Sim will die. The Sim will have the "Singed" moodlet for a while after being put out. The singed Sim's hair will also be very messed up.

In The Sims 3, Sims can walk around while on fire; burning Sims can use a swimming pool, shower, all-in-one bathroom, ocean swimming, or dive well[World Adventures] to extinguish themselves, but they cannot use bathtubs, hot tubs, sprinklers, water slides, Buy Mode fountains, dew plants,[TS3:ITF] saunas[Store], or the Not So Routine Machine[Store] to extinguish themselves.

If another adult or elder Sim from the active household is nearby, they can choose "Put out Sim" towards the burning Sim; or alternately, if the other adult or elder is a witch[TS3:SN] with Spellcasting skill level 2 or higher, they can "Cast Spell…" → "Ice Blast". The latter approach even prevents becoming singed, but will give the extinguished Sim the So Cold -10 moodlet for 2 hours and a faint blue glow.

If the fire occurs on a residential household that has a butler,[TS3:LN] the butler will call the firefighters on their phone within a few in-game minutes.

The Sims 4[]

In The Sims 4, Sims that catch on fire will receive a tense "I'm on Fire!" moodlet. If the Sim isn't extinguished in time, they will die. The Sim will have a tense "Singed" moodlet for 18 hours after being put out. When a Sim puts out a fire by themselves, they will gain the Confident Moodlet. Sims who see a fire will freak out, gesture wildly at the fire, and run out to the front of the house. There are no options for the Sim besides the "Fire!" reaction (which cause them to freak out), "Route to Safety" (which makes the Sims safely retreat from the burning area to in front of the lot), or "Extinguish" (making the Sim extinguish the fire, always resulting in success). One of the most worrying features about fires is that Sims cannot solve any of their needs except by shift-click cheating (not counting mods). This is especially dangerous to those with babies or toddlers in the household.

Extinguishing a fire[]

Teenage Sims or older can be directed to extinguish fire by themselves, but it's often difficult because Sims will generally panic around fire, and will not obey to extinguish properly. This will also put the Sims at risk of catching on fire when the fire spreads. In The Sims 3, Sims who have the brave, daredevil, or immune to fire trait, or work in the firefighter profession can extinguish fire more quickly.

In The Sims 4, Sims are able to wear a firefighter uniform as of patch 95, which will give them protection to fire and make them more efficient at putting out fire.

Fire extinguisher[]

In most games, Sims will spawn a fire extinguisher when directed to put out fire; they don't require to own one to extinguish fires.

In The Sims 3: Ambitions, Sims who are in firefighter profession will receive a personal fire extinguisher in their inventory once they reach level 5, which they can also upgrade. Upgraded fire extinguisher has a unique effect when putting out fire. The personal fire extinguisher, whether upgraded or not, do not shorten the time to extinguish fire.

In the console versions of The Sims 2 and The Sims 2 Pets, there is a buyable fire extinguisher. This fire extinguisher is required to put out a fire in The Sims 2; however, it has no use in The Sims 2 Pets.

If a fire happens outdoors in The Urbz: Sims in the City, a police officer is airlifted by helicopter to the site of the fire without having been called, and will put out the fire with a fire extinguisher. If a Sim caught fire and has fainted, the officer will also give the Sim a couple of defibrillator shocks to wake them up.

Calling a firefighter[]

A Firefighter and a Citizen

A firefighter and a Sim putting out a fire.

If a smoke detector is present in a room where fire breaks, firefighters will appear immediately. Otherwise, Sims can attempt to call the fire department providing they're not panicking. Firefighters can safely extinguish fire, unless they cannot reach to the fire.

Fire sprinkler[]

In The Sims 2: University, players can buy a fire sprinkler and place it in front of a stove or fireplace. The fire sprinkler will immediately extinguish fire in a 5x5 area, but will leave watery mess.

In The Sims 4, players can purchase a fire sprinkler panel. Instead of placing a sprinkler on top of a hazardous objects, this panel can be placed anywhere on the lot. When fire breaks, a sprinkler will automatically appear above it and extinguish the fire. The sprinkler will only appear if there is ceiling above the fire, and will not leave puddles.

Rain[]

In The Sims 2: Seasons, rain will eventually put out exposed fire.

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Magic[]

In The Sims: Makin' Magic, one of the Crystal Clear Ability Rocks can give magical Sims the ability to summon a cloud that will quickly extinguish a fire. This may save the burning object, but the Sim may be fined if non-magical Sims see it happen. In The Sims 2: Apartment Life, a good witch can use the exflammo spell to extinguish fires. In The Sims 3: Supernatural, witches can use an ice blast to extinguish fires. Similarly, in The Sims 4: Realm of Magic, spellcasters can use the Chillio spell to put out a fire.

In The Sims 3: Pets, unicorns can extinguish fire without using magical energy.

Robots and inventions[]

In The Sims 2: Open for Business, Sims can construct a HydroBot with bronze robotics talent badge. A working HydroBot will put out fires it can reach.

In The Sims 4: Get to Work, Sims can invent a SimRay with invention constructor to extinguish a fire.

Other methods[]

In The Sims 3: Supernatural, Bonehilda will awaken or stop what she is doing and attempt to extinguish a fire.

In The Sims 3 Pets for consoles, casting the "Bless the Mess" karma power can extinguish fires and replace burnt objects for free. The power takes about ten seconds to extinguish these flames. Sims will stop panicking and will begin to cheer when the fire disappears.

Death by fire[]

PoorLady

This Sim will die if not put out soon.

If a Sim catches on fire they can die. Catching on fire causes a Sim's needs to drop very quickly. In The Sims, Sims who catch on fire are destined to die and cannot be saved even if the fire is extinguished on them, taking around 12 in-game minutes to die. In The Sims 2, Sims have a short period of time to be extinguished, and if still on fire at the end of the period, they will die.[2] In The Sims 3, Sims will get the "On Fire" moodlet for an hour, and will die when the moodlet expires. In The Sims 4, Sims will get the "I'm on Fire!" tense moodlet, and will die if not extinguished in time. It is not possible for a Sim who is on fire to leave the fire behind by teleporting. They will still be on fire at their new location.

The Grim Reaper will come when a Sim dies by fire, even if the fire continues to burn the lot. In The Sims 3, all fires will be extinguished when a Sim dies by fire and the Grim Reaper appears.

Sims who die by fire will have a flame as their grave symbol.[TS3] Death by fire has its own ghost type. In The Sims 2, the Sim appears red and smoking; in The Sims 3, they appear orange with an animated flame and smoke "texture"; and in The Sims 4, they will emit smoke from their body. They will sometimes swim in pools or in the sea.[TS2:BV] While these ghosts are not always angry or violent, they are more likely to be unquiet, causing them to sometimes get easily angry at anybody. In The Sims 4, ghosts who died by fire will also set off continuous fires when they're angry.

Ghost and fire

SimBots and ghosts can still freak out when fire breaks.

Servos,[TS2:OFB] SimBots,[TS3:A] and plumbots[TS3:ITF] are naturally immune to fire, but will still panic at the sight of one. Ghosts are not affected by fire, although ghosts in The Sims 3 will still react to them. Genies have the hidden Immune to Fire trait, but do not appear to be naturally immune, meaning that genies may burn to death if the hidden trait is removed.[confirmation needed]

Aftermath[]

Objects that have been completely burned and destroyed will leave behind a pile of ash that must be swept up. These ash piles cannot be removed in build or buy modes without the use of the moveobjects cheat. Maids, butlers, Servos, and Bonehilda can be tasked to sweep up ashes. In The Sims 2: Open for Business, Sims can craft a CleanBot to clean up ash piles.

In The Sims 3 and The Sims 4, the insurance company will reimburse the active household for any objects destroyed by the fire. Clicking on a burned object provides an option to replace the object for its original price. In The Sims 3: Supernatural, witches can cast a fire blast spell and put it out (or aim it in range of an active sprinkler), and will still be reimbursed for the fire, even if nothing is damaged and the fire was intentional; the same is also true in The Sims 4: Realm of Magic[3]. This can be a way to gain easy money.

Related traits[]

Pyromaniac[TS3]

Trait pyromaniac

Sims can only get this trait if they are the offspring of a firefighter Sim. The trait allows them to set fire to random objects and they get positive moodlets for doing so!

Immune to Fire[TS3]

Trait immunetofire

Fire Fighters are able to survive countless fires; not because of their natural immunity to fire. It's a trait that they pass on to their children.

Naturalist[TS4]

Trait TS4 NaturalistSims that are Naturalists don't need to fear fire; it won't touch them, and they can extinguish it with ease.

Death by Fire[TS4]

Trait TS4 Death by FireThis Sim died in a fire, and flames haunt them still.

Gallery[]

Audio[]

Description Audio
Song that plays in The Sims when a fire starts.

Trivia[]

  • In the Cozmo Street district of The Urbz: Sims in the City, when a Sim watching another Sim juggle fire sticks catches fire and the player's Sim works at bartending, will.i.am can tell the bartender "Yeah, baby, you're on fire!" which seems to be directed at the ablaze Sim.
  • In The Sims 2, if a Sim is relaxing on a bed, and the player blocks their way so that they can't get up from the bed, the Sim will not get burned or die of fire when the bed is burning. The bed will not turn into ash either.
  • In The Sims 2, if a family moves out while there is a fire, it will still be there when the next family moves in.
  • In The Sims 3, if a Sim catches on fire while sitting down, but cannot stand up because something is blocking their way, the Sim will not die of fire. If a Sim is carrying a baby and catches on fire (such as from a birthday cake for the baby) the Sim cannot run to a shower to put themselves out, because they cannot drop the baby, and will die.
  • Once a fire has occur, "Talk About Fire" social interaction becomes available.

Notes[]

  1. In The Sims 2 and The Sims 3, players enable the testing cheats and shift-click on fires to delete them, allowing them to enter build and buy modes temporarily. In The Sims 2, the fire will immediately reappear once the game is unpaused. In The Sims 3: Ambitions, players can enable build and buy modes in any situation by enabling the testing cheats and then enabling the "AlwaysAllowBuildBuy true" cheat.
  2. While toddlers cannot be on fire, there appears to be a game glitch in The Sims 2 which may allow them to die if left in a fire for too long. See this talk page for discussion. A mod intended to address this is available here.

References[]

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