The 1974 Ohio Players song associated with the lyric “Fire” was “Fire,” the title track and signature single from the band's album Fire. The song was released in November 1974 and became one of the best-known recordings in funk history.
“Fire” reached No. 1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the Hot Soul Singles chart in early 1975. It was written by seven Ohio Players members, including Billy Beck, Leroy “Sugarfoot” Bonner, Marshall “Rock” Jones, and James “Diamond” Williams. The band also produced the recording.
One of its most recognizable sounds is a fire-truck siren, heard at the beginning and again during the instrumental break. The single version runs about 3 minutes and 12 seconds, while the album version is longer. Stevie Wonder reportedly heard the basic track while the Ohio Players were performing in California and predicted that it would become a major hit.
“Fire” is sometimes confused with the band's other major songs, especially “Love Rollercoaster,” which later became another signature recording. “Funky Worm” and “Skin Tight” were also Ohio Players titles, but neither is the song identified by this clue.