electrical firen.

1745 W. Watson Let. 27 Mar. in Philos. Trans. 1744–5 (Royal Soc.) 43 483 When you transmit the electrical Fire along a Sword, or other Instrument, whose Point is sharp, it often appears as a Number of disseminated Sparks, like wet Gunpowder or Wild-fire.

1771 M. Berdoe Enq. Infl. Electric-fluid 55 It is that inflammable principle which we discover in lightning, or in the electrical fire, analogous perhaps with the phosphoric flame.

1848 Sci. Amer. 2 Sept. 394/4 A fearful tempest and curious phenomena occurred at Bromberg in Prussia..during which masses of electrical fire like broad sheets of flame encircled the steeples, towers and chimnies.

1952 Proc. Amer. Philos. Soc. 96 347/1 There would be no doubt whatever in his [sc. Franklin's] mind, that lightning rods would work and would deprive the clouds of their electrical fire before they could discharge it in a bolt of lightning.

1900 Times 1 Jan. 15/2 It would appear as if the sole cause of this electrical fire was due to the change on the part of the Electric Supply Company of its voltage from 100 to 200 volts.

1950 Educat. Theatre Jrnl. 2 35/2 An electrical fire, the kind most likely to occur, would probably be coupled with power failure.

1999 C. Grimshaw Provocation iv. 64 They are so old, so kindly, so unhip. The idea of them being killed by an electrical fire or an exploding appliance brings real tears to my eyes.