The term 'FED THE FLAMES' can be broken down into two crossword solutions: FUELED (6 letters) and FANNED (6 letters). FUELED means to provide something with the necessary energy or resources to continue functioning, while FANNED means to move air or gas with a fan or similar device. Together, these two words suggest that someone is actively providing energy and resources to a situation in order to keep it going, as well as actively stirring up the situation by moving air or gas around. This could be used to describe a person who is actively trying to keep a situation alive or escalating, such as a conflict or argument.