引起

Downed power lines sparked fires in several parts of the town.

His words struck fear in the listeners.

What you said was open to misinterpretation/misconstruction.

Patriotic sentiments evoke an echo in every breast.

attract attention/notice; draw attention; come to sb's notice; catch sb's eye

spark controversy; make an issue; occasion/evoke/cause/arouse/rouse disputes

set off a debate

make the fur fly; set the fur flying

cause miscomprehension/misunderstanding

stir up/trigger off/cause/provoke a crisis

wake/rouse sb's pity

provoke an incident

trigger an uproar/a riot

stir up/cause trouble

initiate a chain reaction; have ripple effect

cause/create/start a panic

occasion confusion

give rise to suspicion; bring on suspicion; raise doubts

set the whole room in a roar of laughter

generate/cause/create/produce a sensation; make a splash; make a great/big stir; cause a stir

strike a chord; arouse sympathy

stir/arouse curiosity

stir up concern; draw attention

awaken a response; produce a reaction

incur sb's disfavour; arouse antipathy; produce a feeling of revulsion

spark a fire; originate a conflagration

give rise to conflict; breed conflict

arouse speculation; cast doubts on

stoke (up) resentment (against)

bring about/result in/cause changes