Crossword Genius

Novel flares, a result of combustion in the open air (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

alfresco

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'in the open air' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'novel flares a result of combustion' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
an anagram of 'flares' is 'alfres' which is located in the answer.
'of' could be 'o' and 'o' is located in the answer.
A single letter 'c' remains which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for alfresco that I've seen before include "where it's cool" , "Outside" , "Outdoors, meal perhaps" , "Open-air" , "In the open air" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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