History Main / BurnTheUndead

* In ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles: Literature/GhostStory'', Harry explains in his InternalMonologue that fire works on pretty much everything, which is why he originally started using it as his preferred combat spell in the first place. It will even kill wandering ghosts, which are almost impossible to even interact with in the mortal world.

* In ''Fanfic/ChildOfTheStorm'', it's the most reliable way to kill the ''veidrdraugar''. Harry Dresden uses this quite a lot (and is mentioned to have [[Literature/GravePeril used it on vampires as well]], partially because it's so effective and partially because, well, [[DestructiveSavior he's]] [[RunningGag Harry]] [[MeaningfulName Dresden]].

** Fire is one of two ways to kill a werewolf the other being silver. Werewolves are considered undead in the setting. It's also said to be effective against vampires, but they have such a grab bag of strengths and weaknesses that it's not nearly as reliable.

* In ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles: Literature/GhostStory'', Harry explains in his InternalMonologue that fire pretty much works on everything, which is why he originally started using it as his preferred combat spell in the first place. It will even kill wandering ghosts, which are almost impossible to even interact with in the mortal world.

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[[folder:Film]]
* At the end of ''Film/NightOfTheLivingDead1968'' and its [[Film/NightOfTheLivingDead1990 1990 remake]] the zombie bodies are burned so they won't re-reanimate..

[[folder:Webcomics]]

-->'''Zeke:''' ''(strikes a match)'' [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqTAnLeMOwY&feature=player_detailpage#t=883s Zack... get the diesel fuel.]]

* In ''Fanfic/ChildOfTheStorm'', it's the most reliable way to kill the ''veidrdraugar''.

** Early editions had mummies susceptible to fire damage -- justified by real-world (and completely dead) Egyptian mummies being covered in flammable resins. One of the ''Grimtooth's Traps'' books combined this with TakingYouWithMe, by stuffing a mummy with a nice big keg of gunpowder.

* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyI'' lists Holy and Fire as the weaknesses of Undead types. Mages usually get a fire spell early enough to use against the undead before the White Mage gets Holy.
* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyTactics'' also has Holy and Fire as weaknesses for the undead. If you lack the Holy spell, then you can simply resort to lighting them up with whatever fire-based attacks you have.

Sometimes the internal justification for this trope is that the undead [[HealingFactor regenerate]] (part of the same magic that keeps dead flesh and bones moving at all), and ''all'' monsters who regenerate in the setting are vulnerable to fire, likely due to the fact that fire destroys with a completeness that little else can [[JustForPun match]].

Sometimes the internal justification for this trope is that the undead [[HealingFactor regenerate]], and ''all'' monsters who regenerate in the setting are vulnerable to fire, likely due to the fact that fire destroys with a completeness that little else can match.

* The skeletal Dry Bones in ''VideoGame/PaperMario'' can only be removed from a fight using fire-based attacks, to which they are particularly vulnerable. The explanation given is that burning them means there's nothing left to be reassembled. Curiously fireballs have little effect on Dry Bones in other games of the ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' franchise.

** A particular monster in ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil5'' plays this absolutely straight. The only way to kill it? Incinerate it in the conveniently placed furnace. Bonus points for the window that lets you watch as the creature is immolated.
** Also in ''5'', you can use incendiary grenades and flame ammo for a grenade launcher. While they aren't super awesome zombie killers, setting those walking sacks of walking diseased flesh who are looking at you funny on fire really helps, and if they are far enough away then they will die before they get to you.

* Mantorok and Xel'lototh zombies in ''VideoGame/EternalDarkness'' can easily be killed by fire.

A subtrope of FirePurifies and WeakToFire. Frequently overlaps FireKeepsItDead, which is where burning prevents creatures from coming back to life in the first place (the overlap is when killing undead with fire also stops them from respawning). Also compare BurnTheWitch, which has similar reasoning behind it.

* In ''Film/TheReturnOfTheLivingDead'', Burt Wilson and Ernie Kaltenbrunner decide to burn the yellow zombie in the crematorium, since RemovingTheHeadOrDestroyingTheBrain and cutting it up didn't kill it. This, however, goes awry. The soot from the burn mixes with rain, animating everyone in the local graveyard, who then go on a killing/zombifying spree. Cue the ZombieApocalypse! Electricity would have done the job better.

* ''Film/FreddyVsJason'': Subverted when a teenager tries to kill Jason by dousing him with high-grade alcohol and igniting it. It only pisses Jason off, and the teenager is instead pursued by a ''[[InfernalRetaliation flaming]]'' undead killing machine.

* ''ComicBook/JudgeDredd'':
** During the "Judgment Day" arc, the Mega-City One Judges have to set their own city wall on fire to delay the invasion of zombies from the Cursed Earth.
** Subverted in the case of the Dark Judges, who can only be slowed down by the Lawgiver's incendiary bullets (and Judge Fire is obviously immune). It will destroy the host body, but their spirits can then roam free to find a new one.

* The best way to kill Zombies in the ''VideoGame/{{X-COM}}'' series are with Incendiary/Phosphorous rounds, since these will automatically kill the [[DemonicSpiders Chryssalids/Tentaculats]] inside them.

A subtrope of FirePurifies. Frequently overlaps FireKeepsItDead, which is where burning prevents creatures from coming back to life in the first place (the overlap is when killing undead with fire also stops them from respawning). Also compare BurnTheWitch, which has similar reasoning behind it.

%%Subtrope [[http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/discussion.php?id=5w48i55m6ljx7hemzgc3c5je Weak to Fire]]. This line to be commented out on launch

* ''Literature/EyrbyggjaSaga'': To put an end to the ravages of the undead Thorolf Twist-Foot, Thorodd has Thorolf's corpse dug up and burnt on a pyre. This puts an end to Thorolf's hauntings; however, a cow which licks up the ashes of the pyre later gives birth to a possessed bull-calf.

** Subverted in the case of the Dark Judges, who can only be slowed down by the Lawgiver's incendiary bullets. It will destroy the host body, but their spirits can then roam free to find a new one. Averted altogether for [[ManOnFire Judge Fire]] for obvious reasons.

* ''ComicBook/JudgeDredd'': Subverted in the case of the Dark Judges, who can only be slowed down by the Lawgiver's incendiary bullets. It will destroy the host body, but their spirits can then roam free to find a new one. Averted altogether for [[ManOnFire Judge Fire]] for obvious reasons.

* OlderThanRadio: The vampires in numerous works of Gothic literature -- including ''Literature/{{Carmilla}}'', ''Literature/VarneyTheVampire'', and ''Literature/{{Dracula}}'' must be destroyed with fire after they're staked and decapitated. The fact that Dracula's body is ''not'' burned when he's killed in the original novel is often cited as a reason for latter-day authors to bring him BackFromTheDead. [[JokerImmunity Again]].

A very common weakness shared among TheUndead is fire. Chopping such creatures into little bits may not stop them, but fire generally will.