Difference between Dead fire and Death-fire

dead fire—

1. extinguished or extinct fire:

• Mr. Evans was sitting there, staring at the dead fire, the poker in his hand.

2. (also: St. Elmo’s fire) a naturally occurring electrical discharge, usually in stormy weather:

• We looked up, and saw a dead-fire sticking to the cross-trees of the mast.

death-fire—

1. a fire causing loss of life:

• The changes in the death fire statistics cannot be explained by this factor alone.

2. a fire for burning a person to death:

• A large wooden statue of the blessed Virgin was brought to make the death-fire.