Spontaneous Combustion: Can You Really Ignite Without Warning?

It sounds too far-fetched to be true. The idea that someone can just *poof* into a pile of ash out of nowhere sounds like a magic spell gone wrong. Nevertheless, throughout human history, many have reported instances of this phenomenon whereby a person bursts into flames, seemingly without a source of ignition. It seems to break the laws of nature, but is spontaneous combustion really the supernatural phenomenon countless witnesses have reported it to be? Or is it simply the byproduct of mass hysteria and omitted causes?

To begin, spontaneous combustion, or more specifically, spontaneous human combustion (SHC), is not just exploding out of nowhere. It entails someone bursting into flames and completely incinerating without clear cause and only in the nearby vicinity. This is in spite of the fact that the human body reduces to ash at a whopping 3,000 degrees Celsius, hot enough to utterly destroy the surrounding area. 

One 2010 case entailed the discovery of the cremated remains of a 72-year-old man beside his fireplace. Despite the seemingly obvious cause, forensics experts ruled that the fireplace was not the source of the flame. The limited scope of the fire also confused investigators; nothing else besides the man himself, the floor above, and the ceiling below him were burned.  

Such notable instances of SHC have drawn the attention of both the general public and the scientific community. However, while the former often constructs wild and outlandish supernatural theories, the latter disagrees. 

To clarify, fires require three elements: (1) fuel, (2) oxygen, and (3) ignition. Often, tales of combustion omit or are unable to detect possible sources of ignition, such as nearby fireplaces, cigarettes, and candles. In addition, because the body is 60-70% water, it lacks a mechanism for self-combustion, even if it can burn. The fact that no instance of spontaneous combustion has occurred in a pool or bathtub is yet another evidence that the cause is external. 

Also, alleged SHC victims share several similarities, such as being senior citizens, alcoholics, and smokers. As such, lack of mobility due to sleep, drunkenness, or simple fragility can allow the flames to continue. 

Lastly, a fire will often put itself out once its fuel source is depleted and burns upwards. Therefore, it’s not so far-fetched to think that a fire can engulf one corner of the room while the rest remains untouched.

Putting this all together, how do deaths allegedly caused by SHC occur? An open flame first ignites the clothing of a generally immobile person. As the fabric catches fire, it acts as a wick (the fiber attached to the top of a candle) to burn the victim's body fat (ex., skin oil), which acts as a candle in a process known as the “Wick Effect.” From then, the unfortunate soul can burn to death for a long time, enough to reduce it to ash without the destruction of the surroundings.

Overall, the tall tales of spontaneous human combustion remain only a page in the book of pseudoscience. Recorded cases of supposed SHC too often omit and exaggerate details to be taken seriously, and the recent 2010 occurrence still contains telltale signs of the Wick Effect, with the fireplace as the cause. In the end, although you are never at risk of exploding into a bundle of flames at any given moment, practicing proper fire safety will ensure you will never be remembered as yet another victim of spontaneous human combustion.

Sources:

https://www.history.com/news/is-spontaneous-human-combustion-real

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-15032614 

https://www.livescience.com/42080-spontaneous-human-combustion.html 

https://www.britannica.com/story/is-spontaneous-human-combustion-real