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Surprised comment in school showing damage by fire (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

scorch

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

'damage by fire' is the definition.
'scorch' can be an answer for 'damage' (I have seen 'Superficial damage' mean 'scorch' so perhaps 'damage' could also mean 'scorch'). I'm unsure of the 'by fire' bit.

'surprised comment in school' is the wordplay.
'surprised comment' becomes 'cor' (exclamation of surprise).
'in' is an insertion indicator.
'school' becomes 'sch' (abbreviation).
'cor' going within 'sch' is 'SCORCH'.

'showing' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for scorch that I've seen before include "Blacken" , "Move very fast" , "Become burnt on the surface" , "Mark, hurt, with heat" , "career" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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