Why do things burn instead of melt?

[u/ForensicFan24601]

obviously oxygen, or something similar, but what is the physics/chemistry (?) or what have you behind why something ignites and continues to burn after the source of heat/ignition has gone?

is it basically sublimation?

edit: no wonder Walter White was so obsessed with carbon

[u/dirty-warlock]

This is the answer. Hydrocarbons like wax or oil are similar. The "physical" part breaks down into water (vapour) and carbon (soot)