Thermal burns result from contact with heat sources including flames, hot liquids, steam, and heated objects causing tissue damage. Flame burns from fires create deep injuries often with inhalation complications from smoke exposure. Scald burns from hot liquids affect large surface areas with severity dependent on temperature and duration. Contact burns from hot surfaces create localized deep injuries in pattern of object. Steam burns penetrate clothing causing widespread injury worse than appearance suggests. Flash burns from explosions create superficial but extensive injuries affecting exposed skin. Temperature and exposure duration determine depth with brief contact causing first-degree versus prolonged creating third-degree burns. Children and elderly suffer worse injuries from same exposure due to thinner skin. Clothing involvement worsens injuries by prolonging heat contact against skin. Immediate cooling within 20 minutes reduces injury severity if done properly. Complications vary by depth from simple healing to extensive reconstruction needs. Prevention focuses on temperature controls, protective equipment, and hazard awareness. Legal liability depends on causation including defective products, negligent supervision, or dangerous conditions. Understanding thermal burn mechanisms helps establish how preventable incidents caused unnecessary injuries.