diff --git a/includes/graphics.h b/includes/graphics.h
index afa09b3b7..66b29031b 100644
--- a/includes/graphics.h
+++ b/includes/graphics.h
@@ -52,7 +52,6 @@ extern unsigned char fire_g[YRES/CELL][XRES/CELL];
 extern unsigned char fire_b[YRES/CELL][XRES/CELL];
 
 extern unsigned int fire_alpha[CELL*3][CELL*3];
-extern pixel *fire_bg;
 extern pixel *pers_bg;
 
 void draw_other(pixel *vid);
diff --git a/src/graphics.c b/src/graphics.c
index abe842190..7a1e483fa 100644
--- a/src/graphics.c
+++ b/src/graphics.c
@@ -37,7 +37,6 @@ unsigned char fire_g[YRES/CELL][XRES/CELL];
 unsigned char fire_b[YRES/CELL][XRES/CELL];
 
 unsigned int fire_alpha[CELL*3][CELL*3];
-pixel *fire_bg;
 pixel *pers_bg;
 
 void *ptif_pack(pixel *src, int w, int h, int *result_size){
diff --git a/src/interface.c b/src/interface.c
index d098b3f44..1afe53a43 100644
--- a/src/interface.c
+++ b/src/interface.c
@@ -2604,7 +2604,6 @@ void set_cmode(int cm) // sets to given view mode
 	}
 	else if (cmode==CM_PERS)
 	{
-		memset(fire_bg, 0, XRES*YRES*PIXELSIZE);
 		memset(pers_bg, 0, (XRES+BARSIZE)*YRES*PIXELSIZE);
 		strcpy(itc_msg, "Persistent Display");
 	}
diff --git a/src/main.c b/src/main.c
index 26e3c9cbc..51fc2786f 100644
--- a/src/main.c
+++ b/src/main.c
@@ -1112,7 +1112,6 @@ void clear_sim(void)
 	player[27] = 0;
 	player2[27] = 0;
 	memset(pers_bg, 0, (XRES+BARSIZE)*YRES*PIXELSIZE);
-	memset(fire_bg, 0, XRES*YRES*PIXELSIZE);
 	memset(fire_r, 0, sizeof(fire_r));
 	memset(fire_g, 0, sizeof(fire_g));
 	memset(fire_b, 0, sizeof(fire_b));
@@ -1491,7 +1490,6 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 	pfree = 0;
 
 	pers_bg = calloc((XRES+BARSIZE)*YRES, PIXELSIZE);
-	fire_bg = calloc(XRES*YRES, PIXELSIZE);
 	
 	prepare_alpha(4, 1.0f);
 	player[2] = player2[2] = PT_DUST;
@@ -1633,7 +1631,6 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 	menu_count();
 	parts = calloc(sizeof(particle), NPART);
 	cb_parts = calloc(sizeof(particle), NPART);
-	fire_bg=calloc(XRES*YRES, PIXELSIZE);
 	init_can_move();
 	clear_sim();
 
@@ -3019,7 +3016,6 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 						if (x>=1 && x<=17)
 						{
 							search_ui(vid_buf);
-							memset(fire_bg, 0, XRES*YRES*PIXELSIZE);
 							memset(pers_bg, 0, (XRES+BARSIZE)*YRES*PIXELSIZE);
 							memset(fire_r, 0, sizeof(fire_r));
 							memset(fire_g, 0, sizeof(fire_g));