start a fire

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.

The submarine vanished on November 15, 2017 after reporting that seawater had entered the ventilation system, causing a battery on the vessel to short-circuit and start a fire.

From Barron's • Mar. 4, 2026

“Now everything is so wet it is hard to even start a fire with wood,” she said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 13, 2025

"Because there is no cooking gas, no food. When we want to have a cup of tea, I collect leaves to start a fire."

From BBC • May 2, 2025

That magnitude of surge could cause transmission lines that remained energized to heat up, sag, arc and potentially start a fire, experts said.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 13, 2025

Almost everything about the jungle felt new and foreign, but doing this felt like home; Mama had taught her years ago how to start a fire.

From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray