History Main / SpontaneousHumanCombustion

A fire or explosion occurs from within a person's body without a direct external cause for ignition. There's often no warning and not much in the way of an explanation.

* ''Manga/RurouniKenshin'' villain Makoto Shishio meets his end this way. The story indicates that after being badly burned, he lost all of his sweat glands and can only fight for limited periods because of danger of overheating. The guy also has a FlamingSword supposedly powered by the fat of people he's killed, which probably contributed to his end. While that detail is also totall pseudoscience, if you go with the assumption that spontaneous human combustion is possible, it's not ''that'' hard to believe it would happen to a guy wrapped in bandages covered in oil.

* ''Manga/RurouniKenshin'' villain Makoto Shishio meets his end this way. The story indicates that after being badly burned, he lost all of his sweat glands and can only fight for limited periods because of danger of overheating. The guy also has a FlamingSword supposedly powered by the fat of people he's killed, which probably contributed to his end. While that detail is also totally pseudoscience, if you go with the assumption that spontaneous human combustion is possible, it's not ''that'' hard to believe it would happen to a guy wrapped in bandages covered in oil.

* ''Manga/RurouniKenshin'' villain Makoto Shishio meets his end this way. The story indicates that after being badly burned, he lost all of his sweat glands and can only stay in the sun for limited periods. The guy also has a FlamingSword supposedly powered by the fat of people he's killed, which probably contributed to his end. While that detail is also totally pseudoscience, if you go with the assumption that spontaneous human combustion is possible, it's not ''that'' hard to believe it would happen to a guy wrapped in bandages covered in oil.

* ''Series/KokchakTheNightStalker''. In the episode "Firefall", an evil pyromaniac ghost kills several people by causing them to be instantly incinerated and reduced to ashes.

* The ''Literature/DoctorWhoNewAdventures'' novel ''All-Consuming Fire'' features what appears to be a case of spontaneous human combustion, but ultimately turns out to have been murder-by-pyrokinesis.

* Interesting variation with Fëanor from Literature/TheSilmarillion whose corpse cremates itself after he gets killed apparently due to his sheer [[HotBlooded hot bloodedness]]. Note that this guy's name means "spirit of fire" in one of Tolkien's [[ConstructedLanguage]]s

* Interesting variation with Fëanor from Literature/TheSilmarillion whose corpse cremates itself after he gets killed apparently due to his sheer [[HotBlooded Hot bloodedness]]. Note that this guy's name means "spirit of fire" in one of Tolkien's [[{{Fictionary}} fictional languages]].

* Interesting variation with Fëanor from Literature/TheSilmarillion whose corpse cremates itself after he gets killed apparently due to his sheer [[HotBlooded Hot bloodedness. Note that this guy's name means "spirit of fire" in one of Tolkien's [[{{Fictionary}} fictional languages]].

* The Wiki/SCPFoundation describes [[http://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/scp-081 SCP-081]] as a virus that causes spontaneous combustion. As a matter of fact, it's [[RealEventFictionalCause caused]] many instances throughout history.

* The Wiki/SCPFoundation describes [[http://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/scp-081 SCP-081]] as a virus that causes spontaneous combustion.

* Stephen King's ''Literature/FireStarter'' suggests that this is due to a form of PowerIncontinence brought on to normal people in very occasional bursts of the same pyrokinetic abilities the novel's protagonist Charlene "Charlie" [=McGee=] obtains from her parents' involvement in an experiment with a psychoactive drug, and then ultimately learns to control.

* Krook in Creator/CharlesDickens’ ''Literature/BleakHouse'' dies like this and is '''possibly''' the UrExample of this trope appearing in fiction, though "true stories" were already said to have existed at the time, and Dickens was known to have strongly believed that this was possible.

* In ''Manga/HellTeacherNube'', a few documented cases of people just beginning to develop [[KillItWithFire pyrokinesis]] end up [[SuperpowerMeltdown consuming the person]] instead, because [[PowerIncontinence they have failed to develop]] the RequiredSecondaryPowers to control their own flame. When Izuna suddenly starts to burst into flame at random times ([[ClothingDamage reducing her clothes to ash]], but [[NakedPeopleAreFunny leaving her otherwise unharmed]]) Nube worries that she could lose control and ignite herself. [[spoiler: She manages to control these abilities at the last moment.]]
* In ''Anime/MawaruPenguindrum'', this is what happens to [[spoiler:Momoka after she changes Yuri's fate so Yuri can escape from her [[AbusiveParents abusive father]]. In a subversion she actually ''survives'' the incident, though she's left with serious wounds and has to be hospitalized.]]
* ''Manga/RurouniKenshin'' villain Makoto Shishio meets his end this way. The story indicates that after being badly burned, he lost all of his sweat glands and can only stay in the sun for limited periods. The guy also has a FlamingSword supposedly powered by the fat of people he's killed, which probably contributed to his end. While that detail is also totally pseudoscience, if you go with the assumption that spontaneous human combustion is possible, it's not ''that'' hard to believe it would happen to a guy wrapped in bandages covered in oil.

* In ''Comicbook/AllSuperheroesMustDie'', 90s causes people injected with it to explode in 90 seconds if they don't get the antidote in time.

* In the ''ComicBook/StrikeforceMorituri'' "Electric Undertow" limited series, this happens to random people due to [[spoiler:psychic harvesting by the alien [=VXX199=].]]

* Shown in the horror film ''Film/SpontaneousCombustion'', naturally. A couple who were involved in an atomic weapons test spontaneously bust into flames shortly after the birth of their son. When their son grows up, he discovers a pyrokinetic ability and begins setting people on fire when he gets angry.
* Multiple drummers in the title band in ''Film/ThisIsSpinalTap'' die in this a fashion.

* One episode of ''Series/DeadLikeMe'' sees an untalented stand-up comedian, literally, die on stage by inexplicably exploding after one of his bad jokes.
* ''Series/DoctorWho'': In [[Recap/DoctorWhoS34E1DeepBreath "Deep Breath"]], this apparently happens to [[spoiler:the ''[[TyrannosaurusRex T. rex]]'' that the Doctor accidentally brought to London at the beginning. Vastra discovers that London's been having a rash of cases of spontaneous combustion. Of course, it's not actually spontaneous: the villain has been [[HumanResources killing people for their organs]] and burning the bodies to [[FieryCoverup hide what was taken]]. The dinosaur was merely the most public victim.]]
* ''Series/{{Fringe}}'':
** A Season One episode explored this. People who were used in experiments involving Pyrokinesis would burst into flames and explode if they couldn't focus their attention on other things around them when their power builds up inside of them.
** Later, in Season Four, a fringe incident is initially believed to involve several people spontaneously combusting after their bodies exerted too much energy (with others in the affected area needing to stand perfectly still to avoid meeting the same fate), but it is revealed to have been spurned by nanotechnology entering the affected persons' bloodstream.

* ''Series/TheXFiles'' suggested this as an explanation several times but it was subverted in each case. In the first-season episode "Fire", there turns out to be an external cause. Also suggested as an explanation in "Soft Light" and "Trevor", both of which turn out to be something weirder. The "Trevor" reference to this trope is funny, since it is [[AgentScully Scully]] that offers it as an initial cause:
-->'''Scully:''' Spontaneous human combustion.\\
'''Mulder:''' (''grinning'') Scully!\\
'''Scully:''' Well, isn't that where you were going with this?\\
'''Mulder:''' "Dear Diary, today my heart leapt when AgentScully suggested spontaneous human combustion."\\
'''Scully:''' Mulder, there are one or two somewhat well-documented cases.\\
(''Mulder nods, grinning'')\\
'''Scully:''' Mulder, shut up.

* Unexpectedly and unceremoniously happens to [[spoiler:Tory]] near the beginning of ''Webcomic/NotIncluded'', leaving behind a pair of SmolderingShoes and a message from the narrator, "And then [[spoiler:Tory]] burst into flames and died."

* In one episode of ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' Kenny is shown dying via Spontaneous Combustion; it’s later explained that Kenny had a new girlfriend and was holding in all his farts. Other South Park citizens get killed the same way.

* ''Manga/RurouniKenshin'' villain Makoto Shishio meets his end this way. The story indicates that after being badly burned, he lost all of his sweat glands and can only stay in the sun for limited periods. The guy also has a FlamingSword supposedly powered by the fat of people he's killed, which probably contributed to his end. While that detail is also totally pseudoscience, if you go with the assumption that spontaneous human combustion is possible, it's not ''that'' hard to believe it would happen to a guy wrapped in bandages covered in oil.
* In ''Manga/HellTeacherNube'', a few documented cases of people just beginning to develop [[KillItWithFire pyrokinesis]] end up [[SuperpowerMeltdown consuming the person]] instead, because [[PowerIncontinence they have failed to develop]] the RequiredSecondaryPowers to control their own flame. When Izuna suddenly starts to burst into flame at random times ([[ClothingDamage reducing her clothes to ash]], but [[NakedPeopleAreFunny leaving her otherwise unharmed]]) Nube worries that she could lose control and ignite herself. [[spoiler: She manages to control these abilities at the last moment.]]
* In ''Anime/MawaruPenguindrum'', this is what happens to [[spoiler:Momoka after she changes Yuri's fate so Yuri can escape from her [[AbusiveParents abusive father]]. In a subversion she actually ''survives'' the incident, though she's left with serious wounds and has to be hospitalized.]]
* In ''[[Manga/{{Gunnm}} Battle Angel Alita: Last Order]]'' it has become the leading cause of death. Much like cancer and heart disease in modern times, it's said to be something anybody can die from. It's explained that before medical technology became more advanced, most people just died of other things first.
* In ''Manga/EnenNoShoubotai'', this has killed people for so many generations that those born in the Second generation and above gain the ability to control it instead of letting it kill them. Those in the First generation, however, experience this along with a BalefulPolymorph transformation into a nigh-unstoppable fire beast. The deaths also seem to be extremely random, so it's impossible to tell who will combust next.

* In the ''ComicBook/StrikeforceMorituri'' "Electric Undertow" limited series, this happens to random people due to [[spoiler:psychic harvesting by the alien [=VXX199=].]]

* In ''Comicbook/AllSuperheroesMustDie'', 90s causes people injected with it to explode in 90 seconds if they don't get the antidote in time.

-->'''Max:''' Spontaneous human combustion! What a stroke of luck!
-->'''Sam:''' For those unfamiliar with the term, spontaneous human combustion is the unexplained phenomenon of extreme, increased body temperature.
-->'''Max:''' Adapt your wardrobe accordingly -- Preferably light cottons and knits!

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
* Multiple drummers in the title band in ''Film/ThisIsSpinalTap'' die in this a fashion.
* Shown in the horror film ''Film/SpontaneousCombustion'', naturally. A couple who were involved in an atomic weapons test spontaneously bust into flames shortly after the birth of their son. When their son grows up, he discovers a pyrokinetic ability and begins setting people on fire when he gets angry.

* ''Series/TheXFiles'' suggested this as an explanation several times but it was subverted in each case. In the first-season episode "Fire", there turns out to be an external cause. Also suggested as an explanation in "Soft Light" and "Trevor", both of which turn out to be something weirder. The "Trevor" reference to this trope is funny, since it is [[AgentScully Scully]] that offers it as an initial cause:
-->'''Scully:''' Spontaneous human combustion.\\
'''Mulder:''' (''grinning'') Scully!\\
'''Scully:''' Well, isn't that where you were going with this?\\
'''Mulder:''' "Dear Diary, today my heart leapt when AgentScully suggested spontaneous human combustion."\\
'''Scully:''' Mulder, there are one or two somewhat well-documented cases.\\
(''Mulder nods, grinning'')\\
'''Scully:''' Mulder, shut up.

--> '''Reporter''': "Reports are coming in from all over that television news reporters are blowing up! These unlikely rumors have--" '''Boom!'''

* ''Series/{{SCTV}}'' had a "Farm Film Report" program where the two overall-clad rustic hosts rated reviewed movies on how much stuff "blowed up" - later they took to having celebrity guests for the sole purpose of watching them explode, which roused them to ecstatic cheers.

* On ''Series/TheSeanCullenShow'', an episode revolved around a talisman which granted Sean's every wish in exchange for famous figure skaters spontaneously combusting.
* An episode of ''Series/PicketFences'' wrote the depressed, alcoholic mayor out of the plot by having him spontaneously combust within his own house. He already figured his political career was over, apparently making him a literal burnout was the final blow to the character.
* In the ''Series/{{Bones}}'' episode "The Foot in the Foreclosure" they find ashes of a pair of loafers; Booth suspects SHC but Brennan says it's just an Urban Legend.
* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'':
** In one of the first episodes, Giles initially attributes this as the cause for a cheerleader bursting into flames; it's later revealed to have been caused by a witch's spell.
** In the MusicalEpisode, this is a side-effect of [[FanNickname Sweet's]] power. Those unable to release their emotions through song burst into flame. Buffy herself barely escapes this fate.
--->'''Sweet:''' ''[[VillainSong All those hearts lay open, that must sting]] / [[BreadEggsMilkSquick Plus some customers just start combusting]]!''
* ''Series/{{CSI}}'' had an episode with a subplot dedicated to SHC. After finding a charred corpse with all the hallmarks of RealLife SHC cases, the characters conducted an experiment: They wrapped a pig's corpse in the woman's clothing, put the corpse on an identical lounger to the victim, doused the pig with liquor, and lit it up, thereby replicating the scene that they found. Grissom, who already knew about [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wick_effect the Wick Effect]], congratulated the experimenters on a successful experiment, and then told them that this was coming out of their paycheck since it was unnecessary.
* One episode of ''Series/DeadLikeMe'' sees an untalented stand-up comedian, literally, die on stage by inexplicably exploding after one of his bad jokes.
* ''Series/DoctorWho'': In [[Recap/DoctorWhoS34E1DeepBreath "Deep Breath"]], this apparently happens to [[spoiler: the ''[[TyrannosaurusRex T. rex]]'' that the Doctor accidentally brought to London at the beginning. Vastra discovers that London's been having a rash of cases of spontaneous combustion. Of course, it's not actually spontaneous: the villain has been [[HumanResources killing people for their organs]] and burning the bodies to [[FieryCoverup hide what was taken]]. The dinosaur was merely the most public victim.]]
* Mentioned in an episode of ''Series/{{NCIS}}'' when a post-operation patient's body suddenly explodes. Turns out that the explosion was set up to destroy evidence of a botched surgery; the patient was already dead.

--> '''Chandra Nalaar:''' Spontaneous combustion is a myth. If you burst into flame, [[KillItWithFire someone wanted you to]].

* This is the "Urban Legend" theme of Fujiwara no Mokou in ''VideoGame/{{Touhou}} 14.5 - Urban Legend in Limbo''. Because Mokou exhibits CompleteImmortality, Mokou uses this as a kind of SuicideAttack from which the character can [[ResurrectiveImmortality resurrect]].

* The world of ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'' has a disease (probably engineered by some MadScientist), "[[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090810 Hogfarb's resplendent immolation]]", that causes this effect. The body is filled with an incendiary substance, and in the end the victim will "go up like a torch".

* The Wiki/SCPFoundation describes [[http://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/scp-081 SCP-081]] as a virus that causes spontaneous combustion.

* In one episode of ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' Kenny is shown dying via Spontaneous Combustion; it’s later explained that Kenny had a new girlfriend and was holding in all his farts. Other South Park citizens get killed the same way.

* In one episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', Mr. Burns claims one of his siblings died this way, although he was probably murdered.

* Multiple drummers in the title band in ''Film/ThisIsSpinalTap'' die in this a fashion.
* Shown in the horror film ''Film/SpontaneousCombustion'', naturally. A couple who were involved in an atomic weapons test spontaneously bust into flames shortly after the birth of their son. When their son grows up, he discovers a pyrokinetic ability and begins setting people on fire when he gets angry.

* In the ''Series/{{Bones}}'' episode "The Foot in the Foreclosure" they find ashes of a pair of loafers; Booth suspects SHC but Brennan says it's just an Urban Legend.
* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'':
** In one of the first episodes, Giles initially attributes this as the cause for a cheerleader bursting into flames; it's later revealed to have been caused by a witch's spell.
** In the MusicalEpisode, this is a side-effect of [[FanNickname Sweet's]] power. Those unable to release their emotions through song burst into flame. Buffy herself barely escapes this fate.
--->'''Sweet:''' ''[[VillainSong All those hearts lay open, that must sting]] / [[BreadEggsMilkSquick Plus some customers just start combusting]]!''
* ''Series/{{CSI}}'' had an episode with a subplot dedicated to SHC. After finding a charred corpse with all the hallmarks of RealLife SHC cases, the characters conducted an experiment: They wrapped a pig's corpse in the woman's clothing, put the corpse on an identical lounger to the victim, doused the pig with liquor, and lit it up, thereby replicating the scene that they found. Grissom, who already knew about [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wick_effect the Wick Effect]], congratulated the experimenters on a successful experiment, and then told them that this was coming out of their paycheck since it was unnecessary.
* One episode of ''Series/DeadLikeMe'' sees an untalented stand-up comedian, literally, die on stage by inexplicably exploding after one of his bad jokes.
* ''Series/DoctorWho'': In [[Recap/DoctorWhoS34E1DeepBreath "Deep Breath"]], this apparently happens to [[spoiler: the ''[[TyrannosaurusRex T. rex]]'' that the Doctor accidentally brought to London at the beginning. Vastra discovers that London's been having a rash of cases of spontaneous combustion. Of course, it's not actually spontaneous: the villain has been [[HumanResources killing people for their organs]] and burning the bodies to [[FieryCoverup hide what was taken]]. The dinosaur was merely the most public victim.]]

* An episode of ''Series/PicketFences'' wrote the depressed, alcoholic mayor out of the plot by having him spontaneously combust within his own house. He already figured his political career was over, apparently making him a literal burnout was the final blow to the character.

* ''Series/TotalRecall2070'': In the episode "Burning Desire", several people spontaneously burst into flames inside their private VR machines. This later turns out to be the result of a remote signal that causes some sort of chemical reaction inside the body that acts as the ignition. The guy responsible for this is eventually killed by his corporate masters in the same way to silence him.
* ''Series/TheXFiles'' suggested this as an explanation several times but it was subverted in each case. In the first-season episode "Fire", there turns out to be an external cause. Also suggested as an explanation in "Soft Light" and "Trevor", both of which turn out to be something weirder. The "Trevor" reference to this trope is funny, since it is [[AgentScully Scully]] that offers it as an initial cause:
-->'''Scully:''' Spontaneous human combustion.\\
'''Mulder:''' (''grinning'') Scully!\\
'''Scully:''' Well, isn't that where you were going with this?\\
'''Mulder:''' "Dear Diary, today my heart leapt when AgentScully suggested spontaneous human combustion."\\
'''Scully:''' Mulder, there are one or two somewhat well-documented cases.\\
(''Mulder nods, grinning'')\\
'''Scully:''' Mulder, shut up.

* Ambassador Standish in ''Film/SherlockHolmes'' bursts into flames when he attempts to shoot Lord Blackwood. [[spoiler: This is intended to be taken as a magical occurrence, displaying the dark powers Blackwood has protecting him from those who oppose him, but in the end a clear, external cause is revealed by Holmes that has nothing at all to do with magic. Standish was rained with oil without knowing (it was genuinely raining at the time) and his gun was sabotaged to create the spark.]]

* In ''Film/{{Bowfinger}}'', spontaneous combustion is mentioned by Kit to be one of his biggest fears, along with aliens and a giant foot trying to squash him.
* {{Invoked|Trope}} in ''Film/ConAir''; after Pinball intentionally sets fire to a fellow prisoner to create a distraction for the other more dangerous prisoners about to attempt to hijack the plane, in the middle of all the confusion Pinball humorously exclaims that this was an act of spontaneous combustion.

* The Literature/DoctorWhoNewAdventures novel ''All-Consuming Fire'' features what appears to be a case of spontaneous human combustion, but ultimately turns out to have been murder-by-pyrokinesis.
* Creator/TimPowers' novel ''Literature/ExpirationDate'' reveals that ghosts sometimes burst into flames if they are suddenly alarmed. From this, it's suggested that human combustion happens when a person dies, but their ghost doesn't immediately notice and keeps walking around in their body for a while before suffering some kind of shock (such as, often, the shocking realization that they've been dead for a while and hadn't noticed).
* The novel ''Fire Pattern'' by Bob Shaw is all about this: it turns out that combustion is the result of failed attempts by a dying alien species to [[GrandTheftMe implant their minds]] into humans.

* In ''Literature/TheSecretsOfTheImmortalNicholasFlamel'', the phenomenon is explained as the result of one over-exerting his/her aura.

* ''Literature/WrittenInBone'' features a body for which this is considered. Then Dr Hunter explains how spontaneous combustion is not all that spontaneous.

* In the ''Literature/SimonArk'' short story "The Witch is Dead", Mother Fortune is found burned to death [[LockedRoomMystery inside her locked trailer with nothing else touched]]. Spontaneous human combustion is suspected, but it is actually murder.

* ''Series/TheXFiles'' suggested this as an explanation several times but it was subverted in each case. In the first-season episode "Fire", there turns out to be an external cause. Also suggested as an explanation in "Soft Light" and "Trevor", both of which turn out to be something weirder. The "Trevor" reference to this trope is funny, since it is [[AgentScully Scully]] that offers it as an initial cause:
-->'''Scully:''' Spontaneous human combustion.\\
'''Mulder:''' (''grinning'') Scully!\\
'''Scully:''' Well, isn't that where you were going with this?\\
'''Mulder:''' "Dear Diary, today my heart leapt when AgentScully suggested spontaneous human combustion."\\
'''Scully:''' Mulder, there are one or two somewhat well-documented cases.\\
(''Mulder nods, grinning'')\\
'''Scully:''' Mulder, shut up.
* In the ''Series/{{Bones}}'' episode "The Foot in the Foreclosure" they find ashes of a pair of loafers; Booth suspects SHC but Brennan says it's just an Urban Legend.
* An episode of ''Series/PicketFences'' wrote the depressed, alcoholic mayor out of the plot by having him spontaneously combust within his own house. He already figured his political career was over, apparently making him a literal burnout was the final blow to the character.
* One episode of ''Series/DeadLikeMe'' sees an untalented stand-up comedian, literally, die on stage by inexplicably exploding after one of his bad jokes.

* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'':
** In one of the first episodes, Giles initially attributes this as the cause for a cheerleader bursting into flames; it's later revealed to have been caused by a witch's spell.
** In the MusicalEpisode, this is a side-effect of [[FanNickname Sweet's]] power. Those unable to release their emotions through song burst into flame. Buffy herself barely escapes this fate.
--->'''Sweet:''' ''[[VillainSong All those hearts lay open, that must sting]] / [[BreadEggsMilkSquick Plus some customers just start combusting]]!''
* ''Series/{{CSI}}'' had an episode with a subplot dedicated to SHC. After finding a charred corpse with all the hallmarks of RealLife SHC cases, the characters conducted an experiment: They wrapped a pig's corpse in the woman's clothing, put the corpse on an identical lounger to the victim, doused the pig with liquor, and lit it up, thereby replicating the scene that they found. Grissom, who already knew about [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wick_effect the Wick Effect]], congratulated the experimenters on a successful experiment, and then told them that this was coming out of their paycheck since it was unnecessary.
* On ''Series/TheSeanCullenShow'', an episode revolved around a talisman which granted Sean's every wish in exchange for famous figure skaters spontaneously combusting.

* In the ''Series/{{Haven}}'' episode "Survivors", a man unknowingly had the ability to recreate events he feels guilty about. He was guilty about his friend dying in a fire, so people around him would burn up.

* ''Series/RizzoliAndIsles'': Frankie is obsessed with spontaneous human combustion and keeps hoping that it will be the solution to one of the team's cases, despite Maura (and others) continually telling him there is no such thing. He thinks he has finally found it in "Dead Weight" when a cyclist seemingly explodes in the street, but there turns out to be another explanation: [[spoiler:a bomb made from human fat]].

* ''Series/RizzoliAndIsles'': Frankie is obsessed with spontaneous human combustion and keeps hoping that it will be the solution to one of the team;s case, despite Maura (and others) continually telling him there is no such thing. He thinks he has finally found it in "Dead Weight" when a cyclist seemingly explodes in the street, but there turns out to be a more rational explanation: [[spoiler:a bomb made from human fat]].

* ''Series/RizzolAndIsles'': Frankie is obsessed with spontaneous human combustion and keeps hoping that it will be the solution to one of the team;s case, despite Maura (and others) continually telling him there is no such thing. He thinks he has finally found it in "Dead Weight" when a cyclist seemingly explodes in the street, but there turns out to be a more rational explanation: [[spoiler:a bomb made from human fat]].

-->'''Mrs. Niggerbaiter:''' It's funny, isn't it, how... how your best friend can just... blow up like that. I mean, you wouldn't think it was medically possible, would you?

->"[On the fate of one of ''Spinal Tap's'' drummers] ''You know, dozens of people spontaneously combust each year. It's just not really widely reported."''

In RealLife, occurrences that look like this trope are usually explained by the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wick_effect "wick effect".]] (Short version: Human fat + clothing + fire = human candle.)

In RealLife, occurrences that look like this trope are usually explained by the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wick_effect "wick effect".]]

->''"You know, dozens of people spontaneously combust each year. It's just not really widely reported."''

* In ''WesternAnimation/CelebrityDeathmatch'', it appears that referee Mills Lane is about to suffer from this, but it turns out it's just gas. Later, interviewer Stacy Cornbred starts showing signs of it, and Nick Diamond and Johnny Gomez think it's just gas... until she suddenly explodes.

* ''VideoGame/{{Bioshock}}]]: This is one of the core powers you obtain. Who needs fireballs when you can instantly hit the "on_fire" button on anything in your line of sight with a snap of your fingers! It's as fast as your lightning spell and just as tactically usable!