The fire Armand Aubigny builds at the end of “Desiree’s Baby…

The fire Armand Aubigny builds at the end of “Desiree’s Baby” is important. Fires can be used to consume or destroy, and by fire Armand is attempting to destroy every object from the chapter of his life that includes Desiree and his son. Beyond destruction, fire has another purpose. What is this other purpose, and how does it create the story’s ironic ending?