This spell enchants a projectile that creates a column of superheated plasma  extending  60 feet long (12 inches) by 5 feet wide (1 inch) from the point of detonation..

Everything caught in this area takes 1d6 fire damage (1/2 if saved). Everything caught with in 5 feet (1 inch) of the outside edge of the blast takes 1/2 damage (zero damage if saved)

If the projectile isn't fired before the end of the casters next turn, it self detonates in a random direction..

At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, the damage increases by 1d6 for each slot level above 1st.