Fire has captivated humans since the dawn of time. Early humans harnessed this powerful element for light, heat, and cooking. Fire continues to fascinate us with its beauty and danger. Riddles about fire challenge our brains and fire our imaginations. Read on for 89 riddles that will stump and enlighten you about this primal force of nature.
Funny riddles about fire
These riddles take a playful approach to the topic of fire.
Riddle 1
What does a little spark become when it feels all fired up?
Answer: A flame!
Riddle 2
What did the firefighter name his twin daughters?
Answer: Hosey and Nozzy
Riddle 3
Why was the candle too lazy to get a job?
Answer: It wanted to work from wick.
Riddle 4
What happened to the wood that felt it was too cool for fire safety?
Answer: It got burned!
Riddle 5
Why do dragons eat so much?
Answer: To fuel their fire!
Science riddles about fire
These riddles focus on the science behind fire.
Riddle 6
I’m made of wax and have a wick. Light me up and I will flick. What am I?
Answer: A candle
Riddle 7
I’m hot, bright, and change shapes with ease. Wind blows me wherever it pleases. What am I?
Answer: A flame
Riddle 8
I’m needed for fire like breath is needed for life. Take me away, and fire will turn strife. What am I?
Answer: Oxygen
Riddle 9
Blow on my embers and watch my ashes soar. I burn everything I touch, wanting always more. What am I?
Answer: Forest fire
Riddle 10
Take my fuel, take my heat, take what makes me burn. Without all three united, no fire can churn. What am I?
Answer: The fire triangle (oxygen, fuel, heat)
Riddles about fire hazards and safety
Stay vigilant with these safety riddles about fire.
Riddle 11
We’re red, hold water, and are firefighters’ best friends. If a fire breaks out, on us you can depend. What are we?
Answer: Fire hydrants
Riddle 12
When a fire starts, don’t fret, don’t worry. Just pull my pin and the flames will hurry. What am I?
Answer: Fire alarm
Riddle 13
We’re the heroes you call for fire and thrills. We slide down poles and ride loud sirens. Who are we?
Answer: Firefighters
Riddle 14
Small, dry, and ready to burn, I easily catch fire if you’re not careful in turn. What am I?
Answer: Kindling
Riddle 15
Bright orange and hungry for woods, I crawl and devour all in my path if left free. What am I?
Answer: Wildfire
Fire-themed riddles
Riddles that play on fire phrases and imagery.
Riddle 16
I’m not an actual flame, but I stir the hearts of those in love all the same. What am I?
Answer: Burning passion
Riddle 17
Things get hot when I lose my cool, though I’d rather stay nice and smooth. What am I?
Answer: Short fuse
Riddle 18
I’m a trial or test from which stronger people will rise. A silver lining comes after I subside. What am I?
Answer: Trial by fire
Riddle 19
I’ll make you dance with radiant delight. Some call me love, others call me fright. What am I?
Answer: Fire in your heart
Riddle 20
Tensions rise whenever I come around. Cooler heads don’t prevail if I’m on the ground. What am I?
Answer: Fanning the flames
Fire color riddles
Red and yellow riddles that describe the colors of fire.
Riddle 21
I’m a bright color that means go. You see me in traffic lights and flamingos. What am I?
Answer: Red
Riddle 22
I’m a sunny color that looks like flames. Butter, bananas, and daffodils are some of my names. What am I?
Answer: Yellow
Riddle 23
Mix red and yellow to make my hue. I look like fire in skies of blue. What color am I?
Answer: Orange
Riddle 24
When red gets hot, I’m the color it shows. Rubies and stop signs are colored like those. What color am I?
Answer: Crimson
Riddle 25
I’m the color of flames, and hen’s beaks as well. Garnets and poppies share in my vivid spell. What color am I?
Answer: Scarlet
Riddles about sources of fire
Discover what creates fire in these riddles.
Riddle 26
Flick my wheel to see bright sparks galore. Strike my flint to see fiery embers roar. What am I?
Answer: Lighter
Riddle 27
I’m hot, bright, and powered by electricity. Turn my switch for instant luminosity. What am I?
Answer: Light bulb
Riddle 28
I’m steady and strong, a combustible source. Chop me, saw me, put me to torch. What am I?
Answer: Wood/Log
Riddle 29
Deep in the earth, old living matter turned black. Under pressure, I became a great fuel to unpack. What am I?
Answer: Coal
Riddle 30
Liquid gold, I come from dinosaurs of old. Refine me, burn me – energy I will unfold. What am I?
Answer: Oil
Riddles about fire’s relationship with other elements
The elements come together in these riddles.
Riddle 31
I’m dry as a bone, but add a spark and I’m quickly gone. What am I?
Answer: Paper
Riddle 32
I’m solid as a rock unless exposed to a flame. Add heat and I’m soon melting like ice cream the same. What am I?
Answer: Metal
Riddle 33
Cut me down and I’ll burn hot, harden like stone if left to rot. What am I?
Answer: Wood
Riddle 34
I burn bright, though I’m hardly alive. My body’s made of wax, melting near flame’s thrive. What am I?
Answer: A candle
Riddle 35
I’m clear and wet, though too much sun will make me evaporate. Add heat and I’m but rising air, lost to fiery skies without care. What am I?
Answer: Water
Food riddles related to fire
Cooking and fire go hand in hand in these riddles.
Riddle 36
Crispy and crunchy straight from the flames. Brush me with butter for added fanfare. What am I?
Answer: Toast
Riddle 37
I’m white, fluffy, and best when baked. Eggs, milk, and heat are what I take. What am I?
Answer: Cake
Riddle 38
Slice me thin and cook me in a pan. Add some cheese if you’re my biggest fan. What am I?
Answer: Grilled cheese sandwich
Riddle 39
I’m crunchy on the outside, meaty within. Slathered in sauce, now let’s begin! What am I?
Answer: Chicken nuggets
Riddle 40
On pies I’m dotted, to costumes I’m stuck. I’m creamy and dreamy – now out of luck! What am I?
Answer: Marshmallow
Fire in nature riddles
Discover natural fire in these brainteasers.
Riddle 41
I illuminate nights with my magical streak. Make a wish quick if you’re lucky to see me. What am I?
Answer: Shooting star
Riddle 42
Heat and ashes are all that remain once I’m done. I rage without control until rain makes me run. What am I?
Answer: Forest fire
Riddle 43
Look above to see my deadly glow. Run, don’t just stare, before I quickly grow. What am I?
Answer: Lava
Riddle 44
Beneath the earth I stay until up I must rise. Expand and rumble, spew smoke to darken skies. What am I?
Answer: Volcanic eruption
Riddle 45
Zeus is my namesake; with bolts I attack. Lightning’s flash, then thunder’s crack. What am I?
Answer: Lightning strike
Fire myth and legend riddles
Fantasy and mythology meet fire in these riddles.
Riddle 46
With scales of iron and breath of flame, I lay atop treasure and rule my domain. What beast am I?
Answer: Dragon
Riddle 47
Mythical bird renewed by flame, I rise and perish again the same. What am I?
Answer: Phoenix
Riddle 48
I’m the mischievous god of Roman lore, with fiery tricks and volcanic roar. Who am I?
Answer: Vulcan
Riddle 49
Zeus condemned me to roll a boulder up a hill every day. But it always rolled back down – my eternal dismay! Who am I?
Answer: Sisyphus
Riddle 50
Married to Hephaestus, I had fiery affairs. The trapped and lovelorn prayed to me with their cares. Who am I?
Answer: Aphrodite
Fire symbolism riddles
Decode the symbolic meaning of fire in these riddles.
Riddle 51
I’m a source of light and guidance, leading you ahead. Follow me and forge your path out of darkness spread. What am I?
Answer: Beacon
Riddle 52
Though small, I burn with hope, lighting your way. Shelter me from wind, and bright I will stay. What am I?
Answer: Flicker of hope
Riddle 53
I’m the fire that fuels your heart’s true yearning. Passion so powerful, it’s love your soul is learning. What am I?
Answer: Burning love
Riddle 54
No beginning or end in the circle I make. Swiftly changing but constant, destruction in my wake. What am I?
Answer: Ring of fire
Riddle 55
Bright and burning, I shine through the ages. Test and temper all those I engage. What am I?
Answer: Eternal flame
Extended fire metaphor riddles
These riddles draw out fire comparisons.
Riddle 56
My anger flares up, quick to ignite. Cool me off before I turn spiteful and bright. What am I?
Answer: Short temper/fuse
Riddle 57
Add fuel to my spreading lies and deceit. Stoke my embers and the damage is complete. What am I?
Answer: Flames of rumor/gossip
Riddle 58
I’ll burn you without match or spark. My pain’s the only flame felt in the dark. What am I?
Answer: Burning desire/longing
Riddle 59
This ache smolders deep in my core. Time only fans my pangs more and more. What is it?
Answer: Burning love
Riddle 60
Your passion ignited fast as fire. Our hearts burned with desire higher and higher. But all flames eventually expire, our once blazing love now cinders and ash.
Fire pun riddles
Light your mind with these fiery puns.
Riddle 61
Why did the firefighters get in trouble?
Answer: They raised alarums.
Riddle 62
How did the kindling feel after the flame was blown out?
Answer: It was in de-light.
Riddle 63
Why couldn’t the campers start a fire?
Answer: It just wood knot light!
Riddle 64
Why did the woman blow out her candle?
Answer: Because it was a flame thrower.
Riddle 65
How did the firefighter feel after dinner?
Answer: He was stuffed.
Classic fire riddles
Put your logic to the test with these classic fire riddles.
Riddle 66
Out of the eater, something to eat; out of the strong, something sweet.
Answer: Honey from a honeycomb (judges 14:14)
Riddle 67
30 white horses on a red hill. First they champ, then they stamp, then they stand still.
Answer: Teeth
Riddle 68
As I was going to St. Ives, I met a man with seven wives. Each wife had seven sacks, each sack had seven cats, each cat had seven kits. Kits, cats, sacks, wives, how many were going to St. Ives?
Answer: One (only the narrator)
Riddle 69
Feed me and I live, give me something to drink and I die. What am I?
Answer: Fire
Riddle 70
I have cities with no people, forests with no trees, oceans with no water. What am I?
Answer: A map
Fire history riddles
Learn from the past in these history riddles.
Riddle 71
Legend says I raged for six days, destroying most of a great city. Who am I?
Answer: Great Fire of London (1666)
Riddle 72
This early genius lent fire a mobility boost. Wheel meets flame – his name you will deduce.
Answer: Thomas Savery (steam engine inventor)
Riddle 73
This noble prize winner found energy locked inside. Splitting atoms – nuclear power he helped unlock.
Answer: Enrico Fermi
Riddle 74
This device of Greek design still seems fantastic today. Burn your enemies, mirrors reflect sunlight’s ray.
Answer: Archimedes heat ray
Riddle 75
This explosive German creation brought grisly nighttime attacks from above. Incendiary terror raining down from London skies.
Answer: German zeppelin/blimp (dropped bombs in air raids)
Fire quotes riddles
Famous words inspire these riddles.
Riddle 76
“Out of the ashes I rise.” Rebirth after disaster is my implied advice.
Answer: “Rise from the ashes” quote
Riddle 77
I said: “Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration.” Hard work trumps all is my celebrated quotation.
Answer: Thomas Edison quote
Riddle 78
“Build a man a fire, he’ll be warm for a day. Set a man afire, he’ll be warm for the rest of his life.” Caustic humor makes my quote cut like a knife.
Answer: Terry Pratchett quote
Riddle 79
I wrote: “Some say the world will end in…” Finish my verse to get my identity right.
Answer: “Fire and ice” – Robert Frost quote
Riddle 80
“If you gaze long into the abyss, the abyss gazes into you.” Philosophical musing earns me credit that’s due.
Answer: Friedrich Nietzsche quote
Fire movie and TV riddles
Guess the fiery flick in these entertainment riddles.
Riddle 81
A child gifted with pyrokinesis. Her power becomes too hot for the shady government to harness.
Answer: Firestarter (based on Stephen King book)
Riddle 82
I’m a Disney film that sees a prophecy fulfilled. The one with the “healing gift” touches the Spirits’ flaming arrow.
Answer: Pocahontas
Riddle 83
Bridget von Hammersmark meets a fiery end engulfed by celluloid in Tarantino’s Nazi scalding cinema.
Answer: Inglorious Basterds
Riddle 84
A dragon protects its gold in this animated movie of ’70s lore. As characters go on a fantastical journey to reclaim what was once theirs.
Answer: The Hobbit (1977)
Riddle 85
This cult ’90s show saw four sisters gain special powers. The youngest could create fire with the flicker of her hand.
Answer: Charmed (Phoebe could create fire)
Hard fire riddles
Up the challenge with these perplexing fire riddles.
Riddle 86
We blot out the light, yet make nothing bright. Consume all we touch, but eat naught a bite. What are we?
Answer: Shadows/darkness
Riddle 87
The more you have of me, the less you see. What am I?
Answer: Darkness
Riddle 88
I’m tall when young and short when old. Glowing dimly with ember’s cold. What am I?
Answer: A candle
Riddle 89
I drink and die, eat and live. I’m the life source, yet I drown all I give. What am I?
Answer: Fire
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed lighting your mental fire with this collection of 89 riddles about fire. From funny to challenging, these brainteasers cover fire from many angles. Whether you got stumped or had “aha” moments, may these riddles spark your curiosity and imagination.
