<P> Pyrokinesis is the purported psychic ability allowing a person to create and control fire with the mind . There is no conclusive evidence that pyrokinesis is a real phenomenon . Alleged cases are hoaxes, the result of trickery . </P> <P> The word' pyrokinesis' was coined by horror novelist Stephen King in his 1980 novel Firestarter to describe the ability to create and control fire with the mind . The word is intended to be parallel to telekinesis, with S.T. Joshi describing it as a "singularly unfortunate coinage" and noting that the correct analogy to telekinesis would "not be "pyrokinesis" but "telepyrosis" (fire from a distance) ". King is the first person to give the idea a name as neither the term pyrokinesis nor any other term describing the idea have been found in prior works . Parapsychologists describe pyrokinesis as the ability to excite the atoms within an object until they generate enough energy to burst into flame . Science fiction works define pyrokinesis as speeding up the movement of molecules in order to increase temperature . </P> <P> A.W. Underwood, a 19th - century African - American, achieved minor celebrity status with the purported ability to set items ablaze . Magicians and scientists have suggested concealed pieces of phosphorus may have instead been responsible . The phosphorus could be readily ignited by breath or rubbing . Skeptical investigator Joe Nickell has written that Underwood may have used a "chemical - combustion technique, and still other means . Whatever the exact method--and the phosphorus trick might be the most likely--the possibilities of deception far outweigh any occult powers hinted at by Charles Fort or others ." </P> <P> The medium Daniel Dunglas Home was known for performing fire feats and handling a heated lump of coal taken from a fire . The magician Henry R. Evans wrote that the coal handling was a juggling trick, performed by Home using a hidden piece of platinum . Hereward Carrington described Evans hypothesis as "certainly ingenious" but pointed out William Crookes, an experienced chemist, was present at a séance whilst Home performed the feat and would have known how to distinguish the difference between coal and platinum . Frank Podmore wrote that most of the fire feats could have easily be performed by conjuring tricks and sleight of hand but hallucination and sense - deception may have explained Crookes' claim about observing flames from Home's fingers . </P>

Girl who can make fire with her mind