Suicide by fire theory

Spontaneous human combustion may be caused by depression leading to suicide, according to one theory

Veteran fortean investigator Vincent Gaddis noted that a high proportion of victims of spontaneous human combustion had apparently given up on life.
Reviewing the cases of spontaneous human combustion in his book `Mysterious fires and lights’ (1967), he commented: ‘some (of the victims) were alcoholics, and alcoholism is a form of escape from reality . . .

Depression fire death

Most were elderly with lowered resistance and perhaps tired of life. Many were invalids or poverty-stricken, dying in rest homes or almshouses. Many led idle, sedentary lives.’
Charles Fort and his successors have also observed a significant number of ‘nohopers’ among spontaneous human combustion victims.
In Fire from heaven Michael Harrison suggests that there are several kinds of spontaneous human combustion, one of which is self-induced by people who are depressed, lonely, deprived, frightened and perhaps resentful.

Psychic suicide

Harrison wonders if normally controlled reserves of physical and psychical energy are not suddenly released in a fatal conflagration, as a kind of ‘psychic suicide’.
Suicide by fire has always had symbolic overtones, and has been used to make a political gesture.
The theory that a massive build-up of rage or despair may result in a spontaneous fire is appealing, but it is highly speculative. In any case, it would account for only some cases.