Fire

**Fire** is a term used to describe the large amount of heat, light, and energy created by the rapid oxidation of a material. In the wizarding world, numerous types of magical fire existed.

## Types of fire

### Regular flames

Natural flame could be produced using the Fire-Making Spell.

### Black and purple flames

*Main article: Black flames*
*Main article: Purple flames*
Black and purple flames were two related types of fire that could be used to block off areas. These could be passed through only by drinking a particular type of potion. During the 1991–1992 school year, Severus Snape utilised both of these fires as part of his obstacle guarding the Philosopher's Stone.

### Bluebell flames

*Main article: Bluebell flames*
Bluebell Flames were a peculiar type of fire that could keep burning without fuel and only burned that which was held over it. Because of this, the fire was waterproof, and could be safely carried in a jar or even in the hand. This type of flame was noted to be a specialty of Hermione Granger.

### Fiendfyre

*Main article: Fiendfyre*
Fiendfyre was perhaps the most dangerous type of magical fire. Apparently semi-sentient, Fiendfyre manifested as an abnormally large fire that took the shape of dangerous creatures such as dragons and chimaeras. The flames were incapable of being extinguished by normal water, and were so potent that they could destroy Horcruxes. Vincent Crabbe attempted to use this fire to kill Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley, and Hermione Granger in the Room of Requirement during the Battle of Hogwarts, but the fire got out of control and killed him instead.

### Gubraithian Fire

*Main article: Gubraithian Fire*
Gubraithian Fire was a type of fire that was capable of burning forever. It was a very advanced type of enchantment, and only a very powerful wizard, such as Albus Dumbledore, could create it. A torch of this fire was one of several gifts Dumbledore sent via Rubeus Hagrid and Olympe Maxime to Karkus.

## Other spells that created fire

* Blue Fire Spell
* Conflagration Spell
* Fire rope
* Fire-Making Spell
* Firestorm
* Hand-held flames
* Ignition Spell
* Killing Curse (if it hit a combustible inanimate object)
* *Lacarnum Inflamari*
* Stream of Flames
* Jiggery Pokery, Hocus Pocus, Squiggly wiggly (Alleged - Harry Potter used these nonsense incantations to scare Dudley Dursley, trying to make him believe he was setting a hedge on fire.)
* *Protego Diabolica*

## Creatures capable of producing fire

* Ashwinders (specifically their eggs if left to burn)
* Blast-Ended Skrewts
* Dragons
* Fire crabs
* Fire-breathing chicken
* Fire Dwelling Salamander
* Phoenixes

## Other magical uses of fire

Floo Powder was a common way of magical transport that involved fire. By throwing the powder in a fireplace, one could quickly transport themselves to any other fire connected to the Floo Network.

Certain types of magical creatures, such as Ashwinders and salamanders, were created from fires; fires that created salamanders were called salamander fires. On a Burning Day, a phoenix burst into flames and was then reborn from the ashes.

Aside from this, fire was also used much as it was in the Muggle world: for heating, cooking, light, etc. Indeed, as wizardkind had not adopted electricity, the mundane uses of fire were even more important for them then they were for Muggles. A comfortable temperature was maintained in the Great Hall and the common rooms of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry during the winter by using fireplaces.

In the summer of 1994, wizards camping out prior to the Quidditch World Cup resorted to using Muggle means such as matches to start fires as magic was supposed to be prohibited, though some conjured fire with their wands while giving furtive looks.

The Goblet of Fire was a magical object full to the brim with dancing blue-white flames. It was enchanted to determine who would participate in the Triwizard Tournament.

Fire was one of the few things that Inferi feared, as it produced light and warmth that opposed to the dark and cold nature of the enchanted corpses, which retreated at the presence of it.

Potions were commonly brewed in a cauldron placed over a fire.

Devil's Snare was highly averse to fire.

When Veela became enraged, they were capable of morphing into a form that could throw fire from its hands.

Careless spell-casting, or spell-casting with a faulty wand could result in things being set on fire.

When Harry Potter's scar on his forehead pained him, it was often described as feeling like it was "on fire".

Fire was the element which corresponded roughly with the House of Gryffindor.