Spontaneous Human Combustion

Region: Global

Lead Investigator: Agent 102

Last Updated: 8 March 2024

Not to be confused with "spontaneous combustion", which is a well-known, well-observed, and confirmed phenomenon. More information at end of page.
"Spontaneous human combustion" (or SHC) refers to death from a fire originating without an apparent external source of ignition, or belief that the fire starts within the body of the victim.
"The chief mystery of spontaneous combustion is that it seldom spreads beyond the person concerned"
About 200 cited reports of spontaneous human combustion worldwide over a period of around 300 years.

The victims are chronic alcoholics,
They are usually elderly females,
The hands and feet usually fall off,
The fire has caused very little damage to combustible things in contact with the body, and
The combustion of the body has left a residue of greasy and fetid ashes, as well as a very offensive odor.

History

1470: First recorded incident: Polonus Vorstius reportedly burst into flames after a night of drinking
1746: Term and idea were both first proposed by Paul Rolli while discussing the mysterious death of Countess Cornelia Zangheri Bandi.
Victorian era physicians and writers believed spontaneous human combustion was the result of alcoholism.

The "wick effect"
Victims were unable to move (due to physical health, age, or being asleep) once they had caught fire from an outside source.
Alcoholism or low-carb dieting may produce acetone in the body, which is highly flammable.
Body burns up like a wire conducting high voltage, based on the idea of "human batteries" and "human magnets". However, there is no actual evidence for either of these phenomena.
Self-immolation as a form of suicide.
Poltergeist activity
Ball lightning

1951: Mary Reeser's remains were found completely burned into ash, with only one leg remaining. The chair she was sitting in was also destroyed. Nothing else around her was damaged. Reeser took sleeping pills and was also a smoker. The most accepted theory is that her lit cigarette set her on fire.
1731: The body of countess Cornelia Zangari Bandi was reduced to a pile of ashes next to her bed, although her lower legs below the knee, three fingers and front of her skull were relatively intact. The bed and the rest of the furniture had not been affected by the fire, but were covered by a greasy and smelly layer. On the floor there was an oil lamp covered with ashes, but without oil.
1970: Margaret Hogan burned almost to the point of complete destruction. Plastic flowers on a table in the center of the room had been reduced to liquid and a television with a melted screen sat 12 feet from the armchair in which the ashen remains were found; otherwise, the surroundings were almost untouched. Her two feet, and both legs from below the knees, were undamaged.
2010: Micheal Faherty was found next to an open fireplace in his home (found not to be the source of the fire). His cause of death was recorded as "spontaneous combustion" by the coroner.
1899: Alice Ann and Amy Kirby, five and four years old, burned to death in different places at the same time. Their deaths were attributed to coincidence and the fact that they both loved to play with fire.

Spontaneous Combustion VictimThe Unexplained Files - Frank Baker Account

Ablaze!: The Mysterious Fires of Spontaneous Human Combustion by Larry E. Arnold (1995)

See Also:

Pyrokinesis

Unreliable Resources:

The Mammoth Encyclopedia of The Unsolved by Colin and Damon Wilson (2000)

Fire From Heaven by Michael Harrison (1976)

Spontaneous Combustion is a well-known, well-observed, and confirmed phenomenon.
It can occur when a substance with a relatively low ignition temperature begins to release heat. Most oxidation reactions accelerate at higher temperatures, so a pile of material that would have been safe at a low ambient temperature may spontaneously combust during hotter weather.
Materials susceptible to spontaneous combustion: Haypiles, compost piles, rags soaked with drying oils, stain, or varnish, pistachio nuts, large manure piles, and cotton and linen in contact with polyunsaturated vegetable oils (linseed, massage oils).
Cases:
- 1937: Fox vault fire
- 1834: The ship Earl of Eldon

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