Crossword Genius

Repairman to strike during disastrous fire (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

fixer

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

'repairman' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'strike during disastrous fire' is the wordplay.
'strike' becomes 'x' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'during' is an insertion indicator.
'disastrous' indicates anagramming the letters.
'fire' anagrammed gives 'fier'.
'x' inserted within 'fier' is 'FIXER'.

'to' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for fixer that I've seen before include "Chemical in photography" , "Agent" , "One who makes arrangements" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app