Fire

Before we got started, please see my confusingly extreme popular artilce, here; The problem with funerals as "celebrations of life", and don't foret that I wrote a book, you can find out more about that, here and here, and, check out my latest on Locals; The CD comeback

So, we're having wildfires here in the Southeastern United States, and, one of the things I like to do is have thematic articles. I've discussed fire before, but, I like doing these things better.
And, you may ask yourself, “Charlie, why fire”? Because fire, much like water, can be both restorative and can destroy
Let's get started. And, please keep in mind, there's a good chance I have written about some of these verses before (after over 260 articles, I'm going to repeat myself). So, for legal reasons, the Bible I will be using is the Douay Rheims. Your versification may vary.
First, let's talk about the destructive property of fire.
“Enter ye in at the narrow gate; for wide is the gate, and and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there are who go in thereat. How narrow is the gate, and strait is the way that leadeth to life: and few that are that find it!
Beware of false prophets, who come to you in the clothing of sheep, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. By their fruits you shall know them. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Even so every tree bringeth forth good fruit, and the evil tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can an evil tree bring forth good fruit.
Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit, shall bt cut down, and shall be cast into the fire.
Wherefore by their fruits, you shall no them” (Matthew 7:13-20).
So, there's a negative aspect of fire. Don't produce good works (Ephesians 2:10, and for those curious, Catholics do in fact believe that we're saved by grace alone), into the fire you go.
What about restorative aspects of fire?
I'm glad you asked!
“And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a mighty wind coming, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them parted tongues of fire, and it sat upon every one of them:
And they were all filled the Holy Ghost, and they began to speak with divers tongues, according as the Holy Ghost gave them to speak (Acts 2:2-4).
The world is RENEWED through the coming of the Holy Spirit, and that comes about with the tongues of fire.
And, let's not forget the Old Testament precedent for this,
“And the Lord went before them to shew the way by day in a pillar of a cloud, and by night in a pillar of fire: that he might be the guide of their journey at both times.
There never failed the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night, before the people”.
(Exodus 13:21-22)
And, of course, I'd be remiss if I didn't give an Old Testament example of a negative association with fire,
“And the Lord rained upon Sodom and Gomorrha brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven. And he destroyed these cities, and all the country about, all the inhabitants of the cities, and all things that spring from the earth”. (Genesis 19:24-25)
And let's not forget, 1 Corinthians 3:15, one of the verses (but not the only verse) that the New American Bible Revised Edition uses to footnotes to bash Purgatory (even though the Catechism of the Catholic Church literally uses that verse in defense of Purgatory, for more about that mess, and higher criticism in general, go here. 
Let's go ahead and use v. 14 (which I noticed the NABRE footnotes didn't do).
“If any man's work abide, which he hath built thereupon, he shall received a reward. If any man's work burn he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, yet so as by fire”. (1 Corinthians 3:14-15).
By the way, Catholics are not required to believed in the fire imagery for Purgatory. I don't generally describe it like that. I have more of an Eastern Christian view of the afterlife on that topic.
I think the problem people have with Purgatory is they think it's like a temporary hell. I recommend that y'all read The AWESOME book, “The Great Divorce”, by C.S. Lewis. Yes, a Protestant (Anglican). Because, in it (everyone appeals to Letters to Malcolm, for some reason), Lewis seems to believe (correctly)! That those in Purgatory are already saved. I have it, it's really good!
The point is, though, is fire can be something destructive (as it currently is here in the Southeastern US, and, for the record, we've even gotten smoke where I live, ). But, much like in nature, it can even be restorative.

Adam Charles Hovey is the founder of the Catholicism, news, and whatever community and if you'd like to help him out, go here.