what's the origin of this

eta, the first thing that comes to mind is, tear with force', essentially implying a lack of control (irregular, jagged edges) over the process. In your example, the imagery is that of flames ripping through (tearing through) the solar atmosphere without control.

[aside] Needlework was mandatory learning in one of the schools I attended, and I was extremely poor at it. To get the threads in a straight neat line was, for me, an impossible task. The only thing that stays with me after all this time, is the teacher's desperate cry (more like an angry bark actually) every time she saw my work - 'Rip it out'!