diff --git a/mods/ITEMS/mcl_fire/init.lua b/mods/ITEMS/mcl_fire/init.lua
index 79b46a701..5a318bbd8 100644
--- a/mods/ITEMS/mcl_fire/init.lua
+++ b/mods/ITEMS/mcl_fire/init.lua
@@ -45,7 +45,8 @@ local function has_flammable(pos)
 	for k,v in pairs(adjacents) do
 		local p=vector.add(pos,v)
 		local n=minetest.get_node_or_nil(p)
-		if n and minetest.get_item_group(n.name, "flammable") ~= 0 then
+		if n and not minetest.is_protected(pos, "")
+		   and minetest.get_item_group(n.name, "flammable") ~= 0 then
 			return p
 		end
 	end