Fear of fire (pyrophobia)

En español: lee sobre este miedo en Fobias.org.

A fear of fire can show up around candles, bonfires, cookers, barbecues, fireworks or the smell of smoke. It can make ordinary home life stressful, and it can be helped.

Understanding this fear

Pyrophobia is an intense fear of fire. Respecting fire is healthy and keeps us safe. It becomes a phobia when even a candle, a gas hob or the smell of a barbecue brings strong panic, and you start avoiding ordinary parts of life to stay away from flames. The fear can be there even when you know the fire in front of you is under control.

There are no reliable figures for pyrophobia on its own, but specific phobias as a group are common, with some US estimates suggesting around one in eight adults has one at some point. It often follows a frightening experience, such as a house fire, a burn or seeing someone hurt, though not always. Some people mainly fear wildfires, while others fear a fire starting at home while they sleep. It can sit alongside other anxiety problems, including habits of checking things again and again.

Common triggers

• Lit candles and birthday cakes
• Gas hobs and lighting the oven
• The smell of smoke or burning
• Fireworks and bonfires
• Barbecues and fire pits
• A smoke alarm going off
• News of house fires or wildfires
• Fire engine sirens
• Matches and lighters

Where it shows up

• Kitchens
• Bonfire night displays
• Restaurants with open grills or fires
• Pubs and homes with log burners
• Churches and candlelit events
• Campsites
• Hotels and unfamiliar buildings at night

Symptoms

In your body

• Racing heart
• Sweating and feeling hot
• Shaking or trembling
• Shortness of breath
• Feeling sick or an upset stomach
• Dizziness
• Chills

In your mind

• What if the house catches fire while I sleep
• I left something on and it will burn
• Picturing being trapped by flames
• Unable to relax with a candle lit, even with someone watching it
• Dread before celebrations with fireworks

What you might do

• Checking appliances and plugs again and again
• Avoiding cooking or using the hob
• Leaving the room when candles are lit
• Staying in on bonfire night
• Looking for exits and extinguishers in every building
• Unplugging everything at night or before going out

What causes it

Pyrophobia often follows a frightening experience with fire, such as a burn, a house fire, a kitchen scare or being caught near a wildfire. Seeing someone else react with terror, or growing up with a parent who feared fire, can also teach the mind that flames mean danger. Phobias and anxiety can run in families, and some people are simply more prone to strong fear. News coverage of fires adds vivid pictures to draw on. Then avoidance and checking keep it going: each time you unplug everything or steer clear of the cooker you feel relief, but your brain never learns that ordinary, controlled fire is usually safe.

How it can affect your life

A fear of fire can make home life stressful, from cooking a meal to lighting a candle. Some people cannot relax in the evening or sleep well because they keep getting up to check. Celebrations can become hard, from birthday cakes to fireworks and Christmas candles, and some people miss family events altogether. Staying in unfamiliar buildings, such as hotels, can bring on worry about escape routes.

Things that can help day to day

• Fit smoke alarms, test them regularly, then trust them to do their job
• Do one calm check before bed and leave it there, rather than checking repeatedly
• Use slow breathing when you smell smoke or see a flame
• Learn the basic fire safety advice from your local fire service so you know the plan
• Cut back on caffeine and alcohol, which can make anxiety feel worse

When to get help

It is worth getting help if the fear is stopping you cooking, joining family celebrations or sleeping, or if you spend a lot of time checking. If anxiety or checking is affecting daily life, your GP is a good first port of call. If the fear began after a real fire and you have flashbacks or nightmares, please mention this to your GP, as specific help is available.

How I can help

Common questions

Is it normal to be scared of fire?

Being careful around fire is healthy and sensible. It becomes a phobia when the fear is far stronger than the situation and stops you doing ordinary things, like cooking or sitting near a lit candle.

Why do I keep checking the cooker and plugs?

Checking brings a brief feeling of relief, so the mind learns to do it again and again. Over time this can become a habit that keeps the fear going, and if it takes up a lot of your time it is worth talking to your GP.

Can a fear of fire start after a house fire?

Yes, a frightening experience is one of the most common starting points, though not the only one. If a fire left you with nightmares or flashbacks, tell your GP so you can get the right support.

Is a fear of fire just sensible caution?

Respecting fire is healthy. It becomes a phobia when even a candle or a barbecue brings strong panic and you start avoiding normal things. It often follows a frightening experience, though not always.

How can you help?

I use hypnotherapy and NLP to change how your mind responds to the thing you fear, so the old alarm stops going off. Sessions are one to one over Zoom, and you get a recording of the hypnosis to listen to afterwards.

How many sessions will I need?

Many clients notice a real difference after one 90 minute session. If the fear goes back a long way, three sessions gives us room to make the change stick.

Further reading: Cleveland Clinic: Pyrophobia · Healthline: Pyrophobia · NHS: Phobias

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