The Flaming Urge

Tom Smith arrives in the small town of Monroe looking forward to making a new start in life. After renting a room in kindly Mrs. Binger's boardinghouse, Tom is hired as a salesclerk at the Apex Department Store. On his very first day, however, Tom is so drawn to the sound of fire engine sirens that he runs out of the store without giving a patron his change. Tom chases the fire trucks to the site of a fire, where he is mesmerized by the flames. Although Tom expects to be dismissed when he returns, his manager, Horace Pender, merely cautions him to exercise discipline. That evening, Tom is befriended by stock clerk Frank, who invites him to the pool hall. The next day, Tom's salesmanship convinces insurance agent Albert Cruickshank to purchase several conservative ties, but Tom is again lured away from his job to the site of a burning building. While watching the firemen rescue residents of the building, Tom is joined by another bystander, who strolls back to the store with him. Tom is followed home that night by Robbie, a German shepherd Tom has seen at every fire. When he telephones the fire station, they send Robbie's owner, Charlotte Cruickshank, to retrieve the dog, who also chases after sirens. Tom is called in to see the department store's owner, Chalmers, the next day, whom he recognizes as the bystander at the fire. After Chalmers confesses that he is fascinated by fire, Tom admits to his own obsession, but expresses regret that he has no control over it. Although Chalmers counsels Tom to resist his urges, he immediately exits his office via a fire pole when they hear sirens moments later. In time, Pender grows weary of Tom's disruptive behavior and urges Chalmers to dismiss him, but Chalmers decides to wait a month. When Tom brings Robbie home another day, Charlotte's father Albert, who insures the department store, invites him to dinner. Charlotte is attracted to Tom, but reluctantly leaves for a date with her boyfriend, Ralph Jarvis. After her father cautions her with information about Tom's obsession, Charlotte, who is studying psychology in college, consults with fellow student Frank. Unaware that Charlotte is referring to Tom, Frank advises her that responsibility, such as a wife or child, is often a cure for compulsive behavior. Days later at a company picnic, the changing room in which fireworks are stored ignites moments after Tom passes by. After questioning Tom, the fire chief suspects he started the fire, which is one of a recent spate of fires in the normally quiet town. Arson fires erupt throughout the town and soon, Tom thinks of moving because he is the prime suspect. A sympathetic Charlotte, however, urges him to open a sealed envelope she has given him the next time he hears a siren. Although Chalmers also believes Tom is innocent, he agrees to demote him temporarily to the stock room, where Tom will be out of sight. When Tom next hears a siren, he opens Charlotte's letter, in which she pledges her love. Because Tom reciprocates her feelings, he draws strength from her letter urging him to resist any sirens. Shortly afterward, the letter accidentally falls into a wastebasket, and when Tom and Frank retrieve the letter, they find a drawing that appears to be a plan for the Monroe Paper Factory. Tom suspects that Chalmers is the arsonist and that the drawing is a plan for his next fire. After anonymously warning the fire department, Tom finds Charlotte and they both rush to the factory. Tom attempts to chase after a man he sees fleeing the site but is stopped by guards. Robbie, however, who follows him everywhere, has cornered the arsonist, who is revealed as Pender. Pender is then arrested and the fire chief apologizes to Tom. Charlotte and Tom soon marry and leave the church in a hook and ladder firetruck, with Robbie in pursuit.