Later, in the early Clone Wars adventure “Duel of the Droids,” R2 employs the same flame throwing tactic to defeat the traitorous astromech R3-S6.
Let us keep in mind, though, that if there’s one character in all of Star Wars who’s obsessed with fire, it’s R2 himself.
R2 also seemed quite eager to help C-3PO burn the Jawa bodies in A New Hope.
Because of this particular droid’s resemblance to R2-D2, it’s easy to assume that some kind of monster must be responsible for its current, engulfed-in-flames predicament.