pesachim 54

fire is a creation that is thought of by God, but comes into being through human hands.

but nothing lasts forever. organic matter disintegrates, and in the end, that doesn't matter.

(contradictory texts that discuss if fire was created before or after shabbat during creation. listed in the items that are created in twilight before shabbat, but there is also a story of primordial Adam being taught at the end of shabbat to strike two rocks together to create a spark that leads to fire. Creation as God's thoughts but human action. also in the page is the curious phrase that some things were thought of by God, but if they weren't then they should have been. and they are connected with death and loss. they are - bodies decay, grief memories of loved ones lessen, and grain rots. things disintegrate, nothing lasts forever.)

pesachim 53

fiery stuff.

the great jewish leader in Rome who roasted a whole goat in the fire on eruv Pesach, learnt martyrdom from the frogs who jumped into the fire.

and saying the blessing over fire at the time it was created. at the conclusion of shabbat.

(discussing the custom of eating/not eating roasted meat on Pesach depends on where you live. but shouldn't eat meat that looks like the sacrificial Pesach lamb outside of the temple, i.e. the whole animal. This introduces us to Theodsius, a jewish leader in Rome, who would roast a whole goat, and the Sages said that if it wasn't him who did this then he would be excommunicated. to prove he was a special case due to his learning rather than being violent, the talmud quotes a fire based teaching of his about martyrdom. and the example of the frogs during the plagues who jumped into ovens to prove God. this page finishes with the next mishna that discusses saying the blessing over fire at havdalah at the end of shabbat)

shabbat 120

building barriers to prevent the spread of fire. just don't use the new pots. they crack.

(although extinguishing a fire is prohibited on shabbat, there is a discussion about permitted ways to use wet hides, or building barriers, or indirect actions that would lead to the fire being put out. for english translation of this talmud page, see here)

shabbat 117

rescuing food from a fire. but where to take them?

(can rescue food for shabbat from a fire, so there is enough to eat. but earlier in the page, discussion about being permitted to carry a rescued Torah to an alleyway, but not food. also on this page is the origin of having 2 loaves of bread for shabbat meals. for english translation of this page, see here)

shabbat 116

can other libraries be rescued from a fire?

and encouraging donkeys to kick over lamps is one way to start trouble.

(while discussing rescuing sacred scrolls from a fire, and not the scrolls written by heretics, the talmud mentions the books of Abidon, a library where ideas and knowledge was debated. can scrolls be rescued from there in case of fire on shabbat? later on the page is a story of Imma Shalom setting up a Christian official who claimed didn't accept bribes. she gave him a lamp, and then asked him to rule if daughters could inherit. He ruled yes, the old rule of property only going to sons was now obsolute. Her brother, R. Gamliel, brought a donkey that kicked the lamp, and thus revealing his bias. it is an odd story. using a woman to prove that inheritance should only go to the males..... the law is an ass...
for english translation of this talmud page, see here)

shabbat 115

 it is better for an amulet to be destroyed in fire than dissolved in water.

(in discussion about rescuing sacred scrolls from a fire on shabbat, the text quotes a baraita that rules that one does not rescue amulets, even those with God's name written on them. This leads to those who write amulets being seen as burners of Torah scrolls. R. Yishmael was informed of someone who was writing amulets, he investigated and the scribe destroyed the amulets in water. actively destroying God's name. for english translation of this talmud page, see here)

shabbat 114

who wears the spotless clothing?

R. Yohanan: the ones who deal with the letter of fire. the torah scholars
Reish Lakish: the ones who deal with water: the bath attendants

fire and water divide them again.

(following R Yochanan statement that clothing = honour, there is a discussion about torah scholars should be well dressed, without stains or patches. R. Yohanan interprets the word 'builders' to be Torah scholars - Torah is said to be written in black fire on white fire, and the hebrew lettering is called 'the flame alphabet.' Reish Lakish interprets the word 'builders' to be the bath attendants, as they are meticulous in their clothing. This pair, who met while R. Yohanan was bathing, and R. Yohanan turned Reish Lakish into a torah scholar, fatally argued over a knife, was it completed in fire or water. for english translation of this talmud page, see here)

shabbat 39

heating something that has been heated by the sun
is very similar to
heating something that has been heated by fire

shabbat 36

things are different after a fire

food gets cooked
and some things switch identities

(after the destruction of the temple, various things change their names e.g. what was called a shofar is now called a trumpet, and what was a trumpet is now called a shofar. The opening mishna of the next chapter discusses about placing and leaving food on different types of fire. because fire changes things. for english translation of this talmud page is here)

shabbat 20

how to start a fire that will keep going into shabbat

and the robber's not-quite-raw-food diet that

(discussion about putting things on the fire before shabbat that will continue roasting on shabbat, and preparing a fire for shabbat. how much wood, types of wick etc. for english translation of this talmud page see here)

(I'm currently in NY. some silly food trends here. someone should start a not-quite-raw-food kosher restaurant and call it Ben Drosai)