Sefer HaChinuch ספר החינוך

To not extinguish the fire upon the altar: To not extinguish the fire upon the altar, as it is stated (Leviticus 6:6), “A perpetual fire shall burn on the altar, it shall not be extinguished.”

I have written from the roots of the commandment, above in the positive commandment of “A fire shall burn.” And the root of the commandment of the fire to burn it and not to extinguish it are one, and there is no need to repeat it.

From the laws of the commandment is that which they, may their memory be blessed, said (Yoma 46b) that even if he brought down the fire from upon the altar and [then] extinguished it, he is lashed. But the fire of the censer and the fire of the menorah that were prepared on the altar to light from it — even if he extinguishes it at the top of the altar, he is exempt. As it was severed from the altar, and I do not call it, “fire of the altar.” And we were only warned about extinguishing the fire of the altar; as it is stated, “A perpetual fire shall burn on the altar, it shall not be extinguished.” And we say in Sifra, Tzav 2:7, “‘It shall not be extinguished’ teaches that the one who extinguishes transgresses a negative commandment.” And the rest of its details are in the tenth chapter of Zevachim.

And it is practiced at the time of the [Temple] by males and females — even Israelites. And one who transgresses it and extinguishes even one coal from the fire of the altar is lashed.