firestorm

American  

[fahyuhr-stawrm] / ˈfaɪərˌstɔrm /

Or fire storm

noun

1. an atmospheric phenomenon, caused by a large fire, in which the rising column of air above the fire draws in strong winds often accompanied by rain.

2. a raging fire of great intensity, as one fueled by oil or gas, that spreads rapidly.

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firestorm British  

/ ˈfaɪəˌstɔːm /

noun

1. an uncontrollable blaze sustained by violent winds that are drawn into the column of rising hot air over the burning area: often the result of heavy bombing

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Etymology

Origin of firestorm

First recorded in 1575–85; fire + storm

Example Sentences

Her brother worries that she and the 30 others who died in the January 2025 firestorm are being forgotten amid a focus on recovery and rebuilding.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 14, 2026

The remarks landed as a pointed rejoinder to Chalamet, who sparked a firestorm last month after appearing to question the cultural relevance of classical performance arts.

From Barron's • Mar. 14, 2026

Residents near the burn scars from last year’s firestorm will remain under an evacuation warning through Tuesday.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 16, 2026

The firestorm stoked by Rep. Khanna hasn’t only made a scapegoat of anybody who was personally associated with Epstein, however innocently.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 13, 2026

Forty-two years earlier, Lemon explained, another government insider had set off a firestorm by leaking secret documents to the press.

From "Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War" by Steve Sheinkin