Spontaneous Human Combustion

The Mystery of the "Human Fire Ball"

I. Introduction

II. Supporters of Spontaneous Human Combustion

A. Larry E. Arnold

1. Radical in support of SHC

2. Ablaze! The Mysterious Fires of Spontaneous Human Combustion

B. Others believe the same as Arnold

C. Many other books and articles written about SHC

III. Cases

A. Dr. John Irving Bentley

B. Jean Lucille Saffin

C. Robert Francis Bailey

IV. Skeptics against Spontaneous Human Combustion

A. Joe Nickell

B. Skeptical Inquirer

V. Case against ruling Dr. John Irving Bentley as a SHC victim

VI. Conclusion

The Mystery of the "Human Fire Ball"

"Spontaneous Human Combustion (SHC) is the phenomenon and process whereby a person burns in the absence of a known, conventional external source of fire" (Arnold 13). SHC is a myth that was first discussed in the early eighteenth century. SHC usually involves "nearly total reduction of the person to ashes"; however, nearby combustible materials are often left unburned (Arnold 13). As noted in Unexplained: Mysteries... the flames a person who suffers from SHC are "of such ferocity" (24) and it is amazing at how it strikes with "sheer speed" (46). Although controversial, Spontaneous Human Combustion, the process of bursting into flame without exterior ignition, has been a topic of interest for over two centuries with as many skeptics as believers.

Larry E. Arnold, a radical in support of SHC, wrote Ablaze! The Mysterious Fires of Spontaneous Human Combustion, a book with multiple cases of what appears to be SHC. In his book, it is apparent that he believes SHC is a real life experience that can strike at any time. There are many other people who believe the same as Arnold and have written similar books and articles to explain the details of such events of SHC. In such books and articles, the stories are told, and the myths begin to unfold, and details often left out in police reports are shared.

Dr. John Irving Bentley was a well-liked, retired physician in his community. He needed the assistance of a walker after he had fallen and broken his hip. His neighbors and people in the community would frequently stop by and check in with the aging man. On the day Dr. Bentley's gas meter was to get checked, the electrician found a site to remember. When Donald Gosnell first entered the apartment, he saw a light-blue smoke and smelled a sweet aroma. Thinking nothing of it, he continued to the basement to read the gas meter. When he was turning to go back up the stairs, he saw a pile of ashes on the floor. Upon looking upward he saw a hole through the ceiling with "embers only around the hole" (Arnold 4). There had been a fire. Rushing up the stairs, Gosnell found an image that will forever "burn" in his mind. The hole that was burnt through to the basement was in the bathroom. Dr. Bentley's walker was present, but Dr. Bentley was nowhere to be found. Then, the reality hit. Those ashes were of Dr. Bentley. Upon further examination, a "browned leg from the knee down" was found (Arnold 5). Part of a skull was left on the water pipe from where the floor had fallen through. Nothing else in the area caught on fire. What exactly started this fire that killed a beloved man in the community? Dr. Mosch, the coroner, said, "There is no evidence of any outside influence" (Arnold 7).

Jean Lucille Saffin was an older woman who was mentally handicapped. Saffin's mother, with whom she had spent a lot of time, had died recently. While sitting in the kitchen with her father, a bright light flashed. Mr. Saffin looked to see what it was and was shocked to see his daughter "enveloped in flames, mainly around her face and hands" (Milton 2). Mr. Saffin was frantic and tried to put out the fire. Don Carroll, Jean's brother-in-law, heard the commotion and rushed into the kitchen to see what was going on. What he saw was a shock, two-foot flames pouring from her body. In the Towers Production movie, The Unexplained: Spontaneous Human Combustion, Don described the scene as a "dragon breathing fire" with a "roaring sound" (Towers). The kitchen was not damaged, and the only material that was burned was around Jean's neck. The fire only burnt a minute or two before they extinguished the flames. Jean died in the hospital a little over a week after the incident. The coroner reported the death as a misadventure. Don wondered why the police never blamed him or Mr. Saffin for setting Jean on fire. "Because they know it was human combustion, that's why, they know. They will not tell anybody that is what it is" (Towers).

Robert Francis Bailey was the town drunk. After a heavy night of drinking, he found shelter is an abandoned house. People saw a brilliant light coming from the inside of the house. Once inside, they found a flame pouring from Bailey's stomach. Fire Brigade Commander John Stacey said, "There was about a four inch slit in his stomach and the flame was emanating from that four-inch slit like a blow torch"