A fiery little thing (5)

I believe the answer is:

spark

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'thing' is the definition.
(I know that spark is a type of fragment)

I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for spark that I've seen before include "Electrical discharge" , "Glowing particle" , "Particle of fire" , "Flicker -- provoke" , "Small electric flash" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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