Originally aired November 15, 1996
Written by Josef Anderson
Directed by Jefery Levy
Following a brief visit to a world completely consumed by flames, the Sliders find themselves in a Los Angeles dependent on the production and sale of oil. Unfortunately, they learn they've brought along a living being of fire from the last world.
Tropes present in the episode:
- Arbitrary Skepticism: Rembrandt is initially doubtful of Quinn and Wade's story about the fire. In Remmy's defense, Quinn and Wade had been drinking a few beers before then. He only believes it when a sober Arturo says he saw it, as well.
- Big Damn Heroes: The fire saves Quinn from getting hit by a truck.
- Corrupt Corporate Executive: J.C. Ashton.
- Fanservice Extra: The bar the group hangs out at in this episode employs a stripper.
- He Knows Too Much: Ashton tries to leave Wade and Rembrandt in a building that will be burned down. Ashton also sends a mook to take care of Quinn and Arturo.
- Hive Mind: Though there are multiple flames running around, the fire says it maintains a single mind.
- It Can Think: The fire. Quinn is eventually able to use a machine to talk to it.
- Never My Fault: Goes both ways. The others blame Rembrandt for betting all their money on the game he was playing in The Teaser and effectively losing it behind when they had to slide. For his part, Rembrandt points out they dragged him away before he could win the payout, all while omitting that he was mixed up in a game way too close to the time of the slide.
- Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: The group is inadvertently responsible for several destroyed buildings due to the sentient fire entering their vortex.
- Not Me This Time: The group arrives at a time the company is dealing with union protests and possible sabotage. Ashton thinks the sudden fires are attempts at arson, but it's actually the sentient fire.
- Not So Above It All: Arturo joins Rembrandt in enjoying a car with fins.
- Punch-Clock Villain: The fire is not malicious; it's just feeding. It can be easily reasoned with once Quinn figures out how to communicate with it.
- Set the World on Fire: The world the sentient fire comes from.
- Ship Tease: Quinn and Wade share a drunken goodnight kiss right before they see the sentient fire.
- Spanner in the Works: The fire was going to be a problem regardless, but had the group not slid without Rembrandt's winnings, they never would've needed to get jobs, which means they wouldn't have been endangered by Ashton's plot.
- What Measure Is a Non-Human?: Averted. Quinn and Arturo are positively giddy over getting to talk to a non-human intelligence.
