buknuti

1. (of fire) to burst into flames; to flare up
   Požar je buknuo u podrumu oko ponoći. — A fire broke out in the basement around midnight.
   Suva trava je buknula za nekoliko sekundi. — The dry grass burst into flames in a few seconds.
2. (of war, scandal, feelings) to break out; to erupt
   Prvi svetski rat buknuo je 1914. godine. — The First World War broke out in 1914.
   Posle tog intervjua buknuo je veliki skandal. — A huge scandal erupted after that interview.

The related imperfective buktati means "to blaze".