Your contributions to this thread certainly display themselves as coming from one who has an element of mastery over words. With the presence of a medical student, a possible English major (?), and some with poetic exposure, I've had to draw from a different area of experience in an attempt to have you folks stumped.
Here's a hint: Your first guess is partially well directed - deflagration is associated with volatility, and the prefix is indication that the fueling compound is broken down in the process. However, it has nothing to do with extinguishing a fire.