A fire or a fire ( two words ) means one ( a ) set of flames or burning objects ( fire )--
There was a fire in the store last night.
We lit a fire in the old wood-burning stove.
Afire or afire ( one word ) is an old-fashioned term meaning in flames or burning--
The old ship was afire, and they feared for their lives.
They could see smoke from a mile away; and they wondered if the town was afire.
Now that you know that, you can say--
"He smelled smoke, and suspected a fire, but he never imagined his own barn afire."
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