fire was stopped

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fire was stopped" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you are describing the action of extinguishing or controlling a fire. Example: "After several hours of battling the flames, the firefighters finally announced that the fire was stopped."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

After the failed attempt to save the house, the fire was stopped from spreading further, though, and among other things the weigh station of Christoffer Valkendorf was saved.

Wikipedia

A column at 225 River Street bears a stone indicating that this was where the fire was stopped after it had gone on for weeks.

Wikipedia

I'll show how the fire was stopped, and the people were evacuated by the mobile fire brigade to safe places", - said Temerlan Bekmuhamedov, a student of the 10 А grade, school #11 of the city of Semey.

Unicef

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Under intense cannon fire, the American attack was stopped, but the soldiers fought tenaciously until the British fell back toward Brunswick.

Wikipedia

Once the natural fires were stopped, Dr. Zack said, the Ponderosa and Jeffrey pine forests from Baja California to British Columbia grew thick.

The New York Times - Science

English said that after Fire Station 19 received a call at 7 08 p.m., eight fire engines, three helicopters and Forest Service crews were deployed to the fire, which was stopped after burning about a quarter of an acre.

Los Angeles Times

Construction of the north transept, where the fire began, was stopped in 1941.

The New York Times

And if there was any doubt about Trump's intentions, there was that time he tried to fire Mueller and was stopped only by White House counsel Donald McGahn.

The Washington Post

The soldier drove to two buildings on the base and opened fire before he was stopped by military police, in an incident that lasted between 15 and 20 minutes.

BBC

A bus driver in northern Italy abducted 51 children and their chaperones Wednesday, threatening them over a 40-minute ordeal before setting the vehicle on fire when he was stopped by a police blockade, authorities said.

Los Angeles Times

-- Authorities say a bus driver in northern Italy abducted 51 children and their chaperones, threatening them during a 40-minute ordeal before setting the vehicle on fire when he was stopped by a police blockade.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "fire was stopped" when you want to emphasize the action of halting the progress of a fire, rather than simply stating it was extinguished. This phrasing can highlight the effort or method used to control the blaze.

Common error

Avoid using "fire was stopped by itself" as fires do not stop without external influence. Ensure that the sentence indicates what or who stopped the fire, for example, "the fire was stopped by firefighters" or "the fire was stopped by the rain".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fire was stopped" functions as a passive construction, indicating that the action of stopping the fire was performed on the subject (the fire) by an unmentioned agent. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fire was stopped" is a grammatically sound passive construction used to convey that a fire has been brought under control. As Ludwig AI explains, the phrase is versatile and appears in various contexts like news reports, encyclopedias and formal documents. While semantically similar phrases like "fire extinguished" or "fire contained" offer alternative expressions, "fire was stopped" specifically highlights the action of halting the blaze. Remember to specify the agent that stopped the fire, and use this phrase when you want to emphasize the act of stopping rather than just the fire being out.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fire extinguished

Focuses specifically on the act of putting out the fire, a more direct synonym.

fire was put out

A more common and informal way to express that the fire was extinguished.

fire contained

Highlights the act of limiting the fire's spread, emphasizing control rather than complete elimination.

fire brought under control

Emphasizes the process of gaining control over the fire, implying a struggle.

fire suppressed

Suggests a more forceful or strategic effort to stop the fire.

blaze was halted

Uses 'blaze' as a synonym for fire and 'halted' to emphasize a sudden stop.

flames were quenched

More poetic and figurative, suggesting a complete and thorough extinguishing.

the fire's progress was checked

Focuses on impeding the fire's advancement rather than its complete elimination.

fire ceased to spread

Highlights the cessation of expansion, implying the fire might still be burning but not growing.

the conflagration ended

Uses a more formal word for a large fire and suggests a definitive end.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "fire was stopped" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "fire was extinguished" or "fire was contained". These options often appear in official reports and news articles.

Is it correct to say "fire was stopped by itself"?

While grammatically sound, "fire was stopped by itself" is generally illogical, as fires usually require external factors to be extinguished. A more appropriate phrasing would specify the cause, such as "fire was stopped by the rain".

What is the difference between "fire was stopped" and "fire stopped burning"?

"Fire was stopped" implies an external force intervened to halt the fire's progress. "Fire stopped burning" simply states that the fire ceased, without specifying the cause. The difference lies in the agency and focus of the statement.

When should I use "fire was stopped" instead of "fire was extinguished"?

Use "fire was stopped" when you want to emphasize the action of halting the fire's progress, potentially highlighting the method or effort involved. Use "fire was extinguished" when the focus is simply on the fire being put out, without necessarily emphasizing how it was achieved.