Burning: stop recurring fire damage

SRD 5.2.1 · Hazards

At the table

1. At the start of the burning creature or object’s turn, apply 1d4 Fire damage.
2. To extinguish yourself with the stated action, become Prone and roll on the ground.
3. The fire also ends if doused, submerged or suffocated. Resolve other fire effects under their own text.

Example decision

A burning character reaches the start of their turn and then plans to use their action to drop and roll. Does the later action prevent that turn’s start-of-turn damage?

No; the start-of-turn damage occurs before the later action.

Burning specifies damage at the start of the turn. An action taken afterward can extinguish the fire and stop subsequent recurring damage, but does not erase damage that already occurred. The action also leaves the character Prone, which must be considered when planning the rest of the turn.

Watch for this mistake

Do not treat dropping Prone alone as the full extinguishing action. The stated method combines an action, becoming Prone and rolling; dousing or submerging is a separate route.

Ask the table

When is the next burning damage due, and how will the fire be extinguished?

Source rule

A burning creature or object takes 1d4 Fire damage at the start of each of its turns. As an action, you can extinguish fire on yourself by giving yourself the Prone condition and rolling on the ground. The fire also goes out if it is doused, submerged, or suffocated.

Source: SRD 5.2.1, 178. Online guide.