Fire



Fires can happen in your Sims' homes, burning furniture and objects. Sims can also die in a fire.

The Sims
Fires can happen in a few different situations. They are:


 * A Sim with little or no Cooking skill decides to cook a meal and messes up the oven, setting it ablaze.


 * A Sim, probably trying to create a romantic and cosy atmosphere, lights the fireplace. If there are tables or other furniture too close to the fireplace, sparks can jump out and cause them to catch fire. Before the Sim knows it, the entire living room is in flames.


 * A foolish Sim, attempting to raise their Fun bar, sets off the rocket set. A rocket hits them and they catch fire.


 * A player chooses the "Sands of the Desert" option when talking to a Genie.


 * If the Enchant spell backfires, whatever the Sim was trying to enchant will catch fire.


 * If you launch fireworks inside a fire will start.


 * If a Sim lights a fireplace and there is a Barbecue grill nearby (it is filled with gasoline).

If the room has a fire alarm, the fire department will rush over and put out any fires. If the house doesn't have a fire alarm, it is up to your Sims to take action, either by calling the fire department or by selecting 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 instigate the 'panic' action they will be in) 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.

It is 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. Or don't, if you want some fun.

If Makin' Magic is installed, 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.

The Sims 2

 * Fire in the room causes a Sim's needs to drop quickly, and a Sim will panic. This action can be canceled, but will appear again, canceling anything else you told that Sim to do when it appears.
 * Catching on fire causes a Sim's needs to drop very quickly. It is impossible to tell a Sim that is on fire to do anything else, but another Sim can extinguish him.
 * Babies, children, and toddlers cannot die by fire. Many adults will autonomously carry babies and children out of the house if they spot a fire.
 * Many Sims will have a Fear of fire, and lose aspiration points if they see one.
 * Fire will spread from its original tile.
 * Fire will eventually burn objects, but if it is extinguished early enough, the object can be saved.
 * Fire makes the Build and Buy modes unavailable, so that Sims or objects cannot be moved out of the way.
 * Death by fire has its own ghost type.
 * When a Sim dies by fire, the Grim Reaper may pass through another Sim who is also on fire, extinguishing the flames from that Sim. It is not known whether this is a bug or a feature.
 * It is not possible for a Sim who is on fire to leave the fire behind by teleporting; he will still be on fire at his new location.

Starting a Fire

 * The main way to start a fire is through a cooking accident. A Sim is more likely to start a fire if he is cooking a meal at the limits of his cooking skill. Even a Sim with 10 Cooking points may start a fire if he is cooking a very difficult meal like Lobster Thermidor.
 * Sims can also start a fire when they cook a meal in the oven, on top of the stove, or in a microwave, and do not take it out on time.
 * Fire can be started by the flame jets that come with Nightlife. A Sim may catch fire while roasting marshmallows over one. The bonfire from University and any fireplace can also cause fires.
 * A Sim can also set a fire by switching on the Christmas tree that comes with The Sims 2: Happy Holiday Stuff. If it is left on too long, a fire will start.
 * In Apartment Life, an Evil Witch can use the Inflammo spell to create fires.
 * With Seasons, a lightning storm can create a fire when lightning strikes an outdoor object, usually a tree. This fire is often put out by the rain afterward, though.
 * Electrical objects can catch on fire after a failed repair attempt.
 * Using a grill inside will automaticly start a fire.

Extinguishing a Fire

 * A fire alarm will automatically call the fire department; unless the firemen cannot get to the fire, they will extinguish the flames.
 * A Sim can call the fire department using either a house phone or a cell phone.
 * A teen or older Sim who is not on fire can Extinguish a fire.
 * In University are sprinklers that will immediately extinguish a fire, cooking or lighter induced, although it leaves a watery mess behind.
 * A Good Witch can use the Exflammo spell to extinguish fires.
 * In Open for Business, you can construct Hydro Bots to put out fires as well.
 * Fires caused by lightning are often extinguished by the rain.

The Sims 3
Fire is a confirmed way of dying in The Sims 3 and its grave symbol is a flame.

Pyromaniac
There is a hidden trait in The Sims 3 called Pyromaniac. It means your Sim has the option of setting things alight by just touching them! The only known way of getting it is for a playable Sim to Woohoo with a fire man or woman and get pregnant by them. Then when the baby is born it will not definitely have the Pyromaniac trait. I changed it because I have had 5 children with firepeople and not one of them has the trait they are all dead now though.