An extremely rare, theoretical phenomenon characterized by the incineration of the body by a chemical interaction within the body’s physiology or biochemistry.
The process of a body catching fire as a result of heat generated by internal chemical action. Many hundreds of cases of spontaneous human combustion have been reported, generally regarding corpses, though a few tales of living people bursting into flame have circulated. One 17th-century tale claims that a German self-ignited after having drunk excessive amounts of brandy. Most reports have been related by police investigators who were puzzled by a partially ignited body near unburnt carpets or furniture. Often these reports involve the corpses of elderly people who may have been the victims of foul play or who may have ignited themselves accidentally.
The physical possibilities of spontaneous human combustion are remote. Fire burns at more than 92°C (200°F). The living human body is generally less than 38°C (100°F). Not only is the human body almost entirely made of water, but aside from fat tissue and methane gas, nothing within the body readily burns. Once a fire starts, it would continue to burn only if the combustion of the burning substance were as high or higher than the point of ignition. Possibility of spontaneous human combustion after death is just as remote; a corpse would tend to cool to room temperature. Cremation requires an enormous amount of heat over a long period of time. If a corpse self-ignited, it would not continue to burn unless the room containing it were so hot as to be on fire itself; a cool body in a cool room would have little chance of bursting into flame.