diff --git a/src/Animation/FireAnimation.cpp b/src/Animation/FireAnimation.cpp
index 82129a5..7a441f6 100644
--- a/src/Animation/FireAnimation.cpp
+++ b/src/Animation/FireAnimation.cpp
@@ -94,6 +94,16 @@ void FireAnimation::loop(uint64_t frame)
         // pull energy from cell below
         std::uniform_int_distribution<uint32_t> m_pullEnergyPctRNG(0, MAX_PULL_ENERGY_PCT);
 
+        // special energy removal handling of topmost row
+        for(std::size_t strip = 0; strip < nstrip; strip++) {
+            uint32_t &energy = m_energy[idx(strip,nled-1)];
+
+            uint32_t pulled_energy = m_pullEnergyPctRNG(m_gen) * energy / 100;
+
+            energy -= pulled_energy;
+        }
+
+        // normal rows
         for(std::size_t strip = 0; strip < nstrip; strip++) {
             for(std::size_t led = nled-1; led > 0; led--) {
                 uint32_t &energy = m_energy[idx(strip,led)];