What is defined as a column of hot gases, flames, and smoke rising above a fire?

The correct definition for a column of hot gases, flames, and smoke rising above a fire is a smoke plume. A smoke plume typically forms as a result of the combustion process, where heated gases and particulates are carried upward due to their lower density compared to the surrounding cooler air. This upward movement creates a visible column that can provide important information about the fire's intensity and behavior.

In contrast, a backdraft refers to a situation where oxygen is suddenly reintroduced to an oxygen-depleted fire, leading to an explosive resurgence. A fire whirl is a spinning column of flames and smoke that can occur during a fire, but it is characterized by rotational movement rather than being simply a column of rising smoke. A thermal column, while related to the concept of rising hot air, more specifically refers to a vertical updraft of hot air and does not exclusively imply the presence of smoke or flames as part of its definition. Thus, a smoke plume is the most accurate term for a visible column rising from a fire.