inferno
n. countable C1 Advanced US //ˌɪnˈfɝˌnoʊ// UK //ɪnfˈɜːnəʊ// in·fer·no
n. a very large and dangerous fire that is out of control. It is often used to describe a fire that is burning very hot and fast.
n. a large fire that burns with great intensity and is difficult to control. Often used in journalistic contexts to describe catastrophic structural or forest fires.
The old warehouse became a raging inferno within minutes.
Firefighters battled the inferno for twelve hours before they could finally stop the flames from spreading to nearby homes.
The dry summer winds quickly turned the small campfire into a forest inferno, consuming thousands of acres of ancient woodland before the first rains arrived.
Usage
Often modified by adjectives like 'raging', 'towering', or 'blazing' to emphasize the scale of the fire.