fire broke out

USAGE SUMMARY

"fire broke out" is a grammatically correct and usable expression in written English.
You could use it to describe a situation in which a fire suddenly started. For example, "When we arrived at the abandoned warehouse, fire broke out suddenly and quickly spread throughout the building."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The fire broke out on Wednesday.

The New York Times

When a fire broke out last Aug.

The New York Times

When the fire broke out, the Rev.

The New York Times

At the same time a fire broke out in prison.

The New Yorker

On Monday, an electrical fire broke out on another plane.

The New York Times

About 4 a.m., a fire broke out in the apartment.

The New York Times

A disastrous fire broke out in the Jungangno subway station in Daegu, South Korea in 2003.

Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology

What was happening when the fire broke out?

The New York Times

After sundown, a fire broke out on its fourth floor.

The New York Times

-- A fire broke out at Trump Tower this morning.

The Washington Post

The fire broke out at 3 o'clock in the morning.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When reporting on a fire incident, use "fire broke out" to clearly and concisely indicate the moment the fire started. Be specific about the location and time, as in "The fire broke out in the kitchen at approximately 3:00 PM."

Common error

Don't use vague phrasing like "there was a fire" if the intention is to describe the fire's initial occurrence. Instead, clearly state that a "fire broke out" to pinpoint the start of the event. This avoids confusion about the timeline of events.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fire broke out" functions as an intransitive verb phrase indicating the sudden commencement of a fire. Ludwig AI confirms this usage is grammatically sound and widely employed. This phrase often introduces a narrative or report about a fire incident.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "fire broke out" is a grammatically correct and very common way to describe the commencement of a fire. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's widely used in various contexts, from news reports and academic articles to more informal settings. The phrase functions as an intransitive verb phrase with the primary purpose of informing the audience that a fire has started. While alternatives like "a fire started" and "a blaze erupted" exist, "fire broke out" remains a clear and concise choice for indicating the start of a fire.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a fire started

Replaces "broke out" with the more straightforward verb "started", simplifying the sentence.

a fire ignited

Simple synonym.

flames broke out

Focuses on the "flames" as the subject, emphasizing the visual aspect of the fire's commencement.

a blaze erupted

Substitutes "fire" with the more intense "blaze" and "broke out" with "erupted", suggesting a sudden and forceful beginning.

a fire sparked

Uses "sparked" instead of "broke out", implying a quick and sudden ignition.

a fire commenced

Replaces "broke out" with the more formal "commenced", suitable for official reports or historical accounts.

a fire flared up

Conveys a sudden burst of flames, more intense than a simple start.

a conflagration ignited

Uses the formal term "conflagration" for a large fire and replaces "broke out" with "ignited", indicating the start of a significant fire.

a fire was triggered

Suggests that the fire was the effect of a cause.

a fire developed

Indicates that the fire grew or unfolded over time, slightly altering the sense of suddenness.

FAQs

How can I use "fire broke out" in a sentence?

Use "fire broke out" to describe the moment a fire started, such as, "A "fire broke out" in the warehouse last night."

What's the difference between "fire broke out" and "a fire started"?

While both phrases are similar, ""fire broke out"" often implies a sudden or unexpected beginning, whereas "a fire started" is a more neutral statement about the fire's commencement.

What can I say instead of "fire broke out"?

You can use alternatives like "a fire started", "a blaze erupted", or "flames broke out" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "fire has broken out" instead of "fire broke out"?

Yes, "fire has broken out" is also correct. "Fire broke out" is in the simple past tense, while "fire has broken out" is in the present perfect tense, implying the fire started in the past and may still be ongoing or have present relevance.