The disclosed firing circuit comprises a fluorescent lamp 10 serially connected with an inductive stabilizer 12, a first semiconductor switch (18) including an SCR 18-1 connected across the fluorescent lamp, and a nonlinear dielectric element (16) serially connected with a parallel combination of a PNPN switch (24) as a second semiconductor switch and a discharging circuit (26) across the fluorescent lamp. The discharging circuit may comprise a semiconductor diode or a PNPN switch. The discharging circuit may alternatively comprise a Zener diode and a resistor serially interconnected.