red fire

American

noun

any of various combustible preparations, as one containing strontium nitrate, that burn with a vivid red light: used chiefly in pyrotechnic displays and in signaling.

red fire British

noun

any combustible material that burns with a bright red flame: used in flares and fireworks. The colour is usually produced by strontium salts

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of red fire

First recorded in 1810–20

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

red fire

Atop the aerial ladder of a bright red fire engine, a firefighter wrangles a hose.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 23, 2025

Since Monday, Hong Kong has been under a red fire danger warning, the highest level, as dry weather conditions made the risk of fire extremely high.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 26, 2025

TVN24 showed footage of Braun with a red fire extinguisher putting out the fire and causing smoke or haze to fill the area.

From Washington Times ● Dec. 12, 2023

One of the Horizon pilots then observed Emerson reaching up and grabbing the red fire handles and pulling them down.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 24, 2023

A red fire dragon bellowed hot flames over the water dragon’s head, its ruby eyes glittering madly.

From Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023