Thirty-eight cases of self-inflicted burns were compared with 220 accidental burns. Women were predominantly affected (57.9 percent, n = 22). A psychiatric history (71 percent, n = 27) was more frequent in this population. The mean age of the victims was 38 years. The leading method of suicide was flame (94 percent, n = 36) associated with gasoline used as an accelerant (77.7 percent, n = 28). Mean total burn surface area (41.5 percent) and mortality (36.9 percent) were higher in the self-inflicted burn population. By recognizing epidemiological characteristics and patients at risk, the authors can better classify lesions related to self-immolation. It is important for the forensic physician to consult survival details to correlate these data with the results of autopsy. (Published Abstract)