Bava Kamma 10A

חומר בשור מבאש, חומר באש מבשור.

There is a stringency that applies to the category of Ox as opposed to Fire, and conversely, there is a stringency that applies to Fire as opposed to Ox.

חומר בשור מבאש ⁠– שהשור משלם כופר, וחייב בשלשים של עבד, נגמר דינו ⁠– אסור בהנאה, מסרו לחרש שוטה וקטן ⁠– חייב; מה שאין כן באש. חומר באש מבשור ⁠– שהאש מועדת מתחילתה, מה שאין כן בשור.

The baraita elucidates: The stringency that applies to the category of Ox as opposed to the category of Fire is that if an ox kills a Jew the owner is liable to pay a ransom, and for killing a slave the owner is liable to pay 30 sela. Furthermore, in such a case, once the court hears the evidence and the verdict of the ox is complete and the court rules that the ox must be killed, it is prohibited to derive any benefit from the ox. And if one transfers his ox to the care of a deaf-mute, an imbecile, or a minor, and it causes damage, he is liable. All of this is not so with regard to a fire. And the stringency that applies to Fire as opposed to Ox is that the one responsible for the fire is considered forewarned from its inception, which is not so with regard to an ox.

חומר באש מבבור, וחומר בבור מבאש.

There is a stringency that applies to the category of Fire as opposed to the category of Pit, and conversely, there is a stringency that applies to Pit as opposed to Fire.

חומר בבור מבאש ⁠– שתחילת עשייתו לנזק, מסרו לחרש שוטה וקטן ⁠– חייב; מה שאין כן באש. חומר באש מבבור ⁠– שהאש דרכה לילך ולהזיק, ומועדת לאכול בין דבר הראוי לה, ובין דבר שאינו ראוי לה; מה שאין כן בבור.

The baraita elucidates: The stringency that applies to the category of Pit as opposed to the category of Fire is that its initial formation, e.g., its digging, is done in a manner that can result in damage, and if one transfers it to the care of a deaf-mute, an imbecile, or a minor and it causes damage, one is liable. This is not so with regard to a fire. The stringency that applies to Fire as opposed to Pit is that the typical manner of a fire is to proceed and cause damage. And the one responsible for it is considered forewarned with regard to its consuming both something that is fitting for it and something that is not fitting for it, i.e., both flammable and non-flammable items. This is not so with regard to a pit.