inferno
Massive, uncontrolled blaze
An inferno is a large, intensely hot fire—the kind that consumes buildings or forests: The warehouse became an inferno within minutes.
By extension, any place of extreme heat qualifies: The kitchen was an inferno during the summer.
The word carries connotations of destructive, uncontrollable flames rather than a cozy hearth fire. (Capitalized Inferno refers to Dante's work.)
Self-perpetuating intense blaze
- flamesVisible burning combustion
- blazeIntense burning fire
- combustionExothermic reaction with oxygen
- engulfCompletely surround and cover
incinerate · pyre · embers · ash · scorched · furnace · burning · ignition
Violent, large-scale disaster
- destructionAct of completely ruining
- annihilationUtter, complete destruction
- devastationSevere widespread destruction
- ruinationState of complete destruction
catastrophe · holocaust · wasteland · firebombing · Dresden · hellscape
Uncontrolled woodland blaze
- evacuationRemoval from danger
- firefightersEmergency personnel combating blazes
- smokeAirborne combustion byproduct
- firebreakCleared barrier against flames
containment · drought · flammable · suppression · brush fire · devastation
firestorm
Self-perpetuating intense blaze
- flamesVisible burning combustion
- blazeIntense burning fire
- combustionExothermic reaction with oxygen
engulf · incinerate · pyre · embers · ash · scorched · furnace · burning · ignition · flaring
cataclysm
Violent, large-scale disaster
- destructionAct of completely ruining
- annihilationUtter, complete destruction
- devastationSevere widespread destruction
ruination · catastrophe · holocaust · wasteland · firebombing · Dresden · hellscape
forest fire
Uncontrolled woodland blaze
- evacuationRemoval from danger
- firefightersEmergency personnel combating blazes
- smokeAirborne combustion byproduct
firebreak · containment · drought · flammable · suppression · brush fire · devastation
- fireflame, blaze, flames, embers, ember
- temperaturehot, cold, warm, cool, freezing
- catastrophesdisasters, disaster, natural disasters, catastrophe, apocalypse
- Extreme Conditionsblizzard, hurricane, tornado, typhoon, heatwave
- extreme heatblazing, blistering, boiling, burning, broiling
- fire hazardswildfire, gasoline, forest fire, matches, house fire
infernoarctic
Of extreme northern cold
freezing · ice · frozen wasteland · frigid · glacier
- towering infernoExtremely tall fire
- Dante's InfernoEpic poem depicting hell
- infernal devicesDiabolically designed explosives
- The Towering InfernoMassive building ablaze
- Disco InfernoFunk hit about flames
- infernal contractAgreement with dark forces