noun

conflagration

kahn-fluh-GRAY-shun/ˌkɑːnfləˈɡreɪʃn/

A large destructive fire.

The conflagration engulfs neighboring buildings and collapses their roof beams.

Several adjacent buildings engulfed in one spreading blaze, with collapsed roof beams and charred walls making its large scale and destructive force immediately visible.

Etymology

conLatinperhaps adds emphasis

+flagrLatinburn, blaze, glow

+ationLatinaction or process

The prefix may intensify “burn,” yielding the sense “burn up.” The action noun names destructive burning, especially the burning of a large mass of combustible material.

In context

Enhanced Public Domain61:12

there is a proper season for making attacks with fire and special days for starting a conflagration the proper season is when the weather is very dry

Ancient China: The Art of War (Audiobook)

More examples

The conflagration destroyed six blocks of wooden buildings.
Strong winds turned a small brush fire into a conflagration.
Modern building codes help prevent conflagrations from spreading through neighborhoods.

Forms

conflagration · conflagrations

Similar words

inferno: Emphasizes extreme heat and flames rather than widespread destruction.
blaze: Means a strong, bright fire, not necessarily a destructive one.