I
Rapid burning of combustible material, producing heat and usually accompanied by flame.
For eons, lightning was the only source of fire. The earliest controlled use of fire seems to date to с 1,420,000 years ago, but not until с 7000 BC did Neolithic humans acquire reliable firemaking techniques, including friction from hardwood drills and sparks struck from flint against
II
[c mediumvioletred] (as used in expressions)
{{link=fire ant">fire ant
fire escape
Fire Island
fire walking
Great Fire of London
Greek fire
Reichstag fire
Ring of Fire
Saint Elmo's fire
Triangle Shirtwaist Co. fire