Some like it hot. And some like it, well, really hot.
What is Fire Fetish?
Fire fetish, or pyrophilia, is the love of fire. Some say it doesn’t exist, that the word is made up to dramatize the word “pyromania” which also means, more or less, the love of fire.
Fire bugs are everywhere, and most of us hold a fascination for fire. It’s elemental and dangerous, and anywhere danger lurks, sexual arousal is close by.
Pyromania is a common condition, behind many arson attacks, and forest fires. But what motivates a pyro? Destruction, revenge, and danger might motivate a pyro to arson. It can feel extremely powerful to destroy so much so fast.
But for those who experience pyrophilia, everything crosses over into an erotic trigger. The sound of the fire, the explosion, the heat, the power, the fear, and the adrenaline all contribute to a heightened state of sexual arousal.
Some report a profound release of stress after indulging their habits or desires. Although the fire fetish is uncommon, and most pyromaniacs do not experience sexual arousal from fires, the fetish is indeed behind some acts of arson. The arsonist occasionally reports sexual gratification and the release of stress was their motivation.
To understand more about fetish and it’s causes, read our glossary of over 120 Kinks & Fetishes Explained.
There have been a few small studies where pyrophiles showed intense sexual arousal to images of fires and far less for standard pornography like naked women.
Fire fetishists may find excitement starting a fire, feeling its warmth, and watching it burn. There are reports of folks with fire fetishes, who are also extremely submissive and masochistic, who derive pleasure from being burned.
Needless to say, a fire fetish can be dangerous. But then again, so is smoking in bed or building a campfire.
How can you play safely if the flame’s your thing?
4 Ways to Play with Fire
1. Masturbate and Fantasize
For most who experience pyrophilia, the only fulfillment is masturbation. After all, you can’t fuck a fire—not if you want to keep your body parts to enjoy them again.
We are often able to compartmentalize and enjoy the thrill of desire and arousal while recognizing that anything more is impossible or unrealistic. Looking at images of fires while jerking off or imagining them is the safest way to play.
2. Set the Mood
A few atmospheric candles and a crackling yule log in the fireplace are the backdrop for many cozy encounters. Being around fire while you make love is totally doable.
If you’re like me and aren’t lucky enough to have a fireplace, play a hi-def birchwood fire on YouTube. I swear, it’s almost as good as the real thing.
3. Build a Bonfire
If building the fire is important to the thrill, there are lots of great reasons to have a fire—cleaning up the brush in the yard, cooking up hotdogs, and staying warm while cracking open a few cold ones.
Maybe you like to whittle sticks by the fire, use them for roasting marshmallows or just for poking the fire.
4. Watch from a Distance
If watching the fire is more important than setting the fire, you can drive past a forest fire or watch house fires at a safe distance when they’re already happening. Some people with fire fetish get alerts for active incidents in their neighborhoods, so they can do a drive by. If that’s too much work, check out these fire-themed movies to satisfy your kink.
5. Balance Danger and Safety
Extreme BDSM edge play or sadomasochism can involve flame and it is extremely risky and dangerous. You can end up in the burn ward or dead by playing with fire.
If a few candlewax drips during wax play just don’t cut it for you, and you long to be roasted over a spit, there’s really no way to realize that thrill and come out of it intact. Best to keep fires burning safely at a distance. You could always volunteer at your local fire station, be trained properly to fight fires and save lives, all the while satisfying your thrill for danger.
Does watching, playing with, or being close to fire turn you on? Share your ways to play with fire fetish in the comments.
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