Fire

If a sim with a low cooking skill cooks a meal there is a chance it will catch fire. Similarly if the food is left in the oven by a careless sim or, very probably, a Nanny, the food will also catch fire. If there is no fire alarm present it is up to the sim to put out the fire. This can be done by calling the fire department or by clicking on the fire and choosing 'extinguish'. There is no way to buy a fire alarm while the fire is there as build mode and buy mode are disabled. The longer a sim is in proximity to the fire (and because all sims are autonomously brought to the fire to institate the 'panic' action they will be) the greater the chance is that they will catch fire. Even if sims escape unscathed from a fire hygiene and fun motives will seriously drop in proximity to the fire. When three of there motives are completely depleted the sim will die.

Fire can also be started by the fire fountains that come with Nightlife, a sim may catch fire while roasting marshmellows over one. The same occurs with the bonfire from University and any fire place.

Its therefore better to call a fireman because your sim has a bigger chance of dying if he or she tries to extinguish the fire him/herself. Always have a fire alarm in a kitchen, near a fireplace or anywhere else you think there can be a fire. With University sprinklers will also immediately extinguish a fire, cooking or lighter induced, however it leaves a mess. Its better to be safe than sorry- unless you don't want to be, that is...

Death by fire has its own ghost type.