firestorm
n.a very large and powerful fire that spreads quickly and is difficult to control. It can also describe a situation where a lot of people are talking or arguing about something very strongly.
n.a large, intense, and rapidly spreading fire that is difficult to extinguish. In a figurative sense, it refers to a period of intense public debate or controversy.
“The forest was destroyed by a massive firestorm.”
“The politician's controversial comments sparked a firestorm of criticism on social media.”
“The rapid spread of the firestorm was exacerbated by the dry conditions and the lack of immediate intervention from the local emergency services.”
“The Cambridge professor, found dead last week, was at the center of a firestorm about race and hiring.”
“Tucakovic said the firestorm burned through "everything in their path" as officials confirmed flames, fanned by strong winds, engulfed 1,000 hectares in just four hours.”
From fire + storm.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.