They don’t. Not directly as instinct. If it was instinctual, animal reaction to fire would be similar across the board. But instead, it varies. Reactions to fire could be anything from “Oooo… pretty cool. What is that? I’m gonna grab it” To “That’s weird. I don’t think I like how that looks and moves and crackles. I’m moving away”. To “Woa! What the hell is that! I’m outta here!”
After the initial reaction, other animals… just like humans… learn what it means in different ways. Humans, being animals, generally get their lesson learned in one of two ways. “Oooo… pretty! I wanna touch…” (reaches hand out) “OWWW!!” Or… “Oooo… pretty! I wanna touch…” (reaches hand out and parent yells out “NOOO!!!!” thereby scaring the bejesus out of him). Either way, they become aware that there are negative consequences to messing with that glowing, squirming orange stuff.
Wild animals learn in the same way. If they haven’t evacuated the area just because it looks scary and unfamiliar, they soon will learn to; either by feeling uncomfortable heat when they get too close…. getting scolded by an adult… or just by sensing from every other living being around them that something is wrong and it’s best to move out of the area with full haste, if it’s something like a forest fire.
Many things that seem instinctual at first are actually learned. By cause and effect, or by being taught by something or someone who already knows, i.e.: deadly animals or plants, the finer points of hunting, places to steer clear of or be on high alert, etc.
Behaviors that are truly and consistently instinctual are things such as long-range navigation by some species, mating, building dens or nests, chasing when something that is running, or running when something is chasing, etc.
It’s all about the classic Nature / Nurture thing. Sometimes it’s one, sometimes the other. And sometimes it’s a combination of both.
*** Please ALWAYS watch your cat when they are around the Vanilla or Linen scented candle you lit to make your house smell like ice cream or a closet. A flaming cat running through your living room is sure to start your drapes on fire. Not to mention… singed whiskers or burnt paws.
(I only added this guy because he looks bizarrely and incredibly like me, if you trim the nose just a tad. So, thank you… yes, I will take credit for my family having directly discovered how to start a fire with a piece of flint, while trying to knap a spear head. And… you are welcome.)
PS: This reminds me of an Army story from 35 years ago. I was a Private, and visiting my Sergeant’s house for a beer after hours. Let’s call him Sgt. Carter (cuz that was his name). He was a young Sergeant. Maybe 22, while I was 19. His wife had gone shopping and I came over to watch TV while he babysat his new 6 month-old daughter, and passed the time. He was new to fathering. Still learning.
He was smoking a cigarette (2nd hand smoke hadn’t yet been invented). Suddenly he had a thought. He remembered how he had been burned as a child because he reached for fire. So he had a brainstorm and was going to prevent that from happening to his daughter. He lit his lighter and showed her the flame. “Ooooo… pretty….” as she reached out. Guess what happened. She got burned! How odd! Didn’t see that one coming!
His reaction was mixed. He was glad she would now associate flame with “Owie!!!” and hopefully wouldn’t get burned worse in the future. He was also concerned because she was crying profusely. But most of all he was terrified that I would tell his wife, Bonnie. She was due to be home at any minute. I assured him I wouldn’t tell Bonnie.
That was weird.