Blowout process in premixed swirl dump combustors is known to have temporary partial extinction followed by re-ignition events as precursors. This re-ignition process is investigated using high-speed CH∗chemiluminescence and simultaneous TR-SPIV. It was found that during the extinction phase, the flame split into two zones, causing fresh mixture to enter the inner recirculation zone. The sudden loss of heat release causes the flow field to change such that the stagnation point moves further downstream, causing high negative velocity paths in the flow. The flame that was convected downstream, now uses these negative velocity paths to consume the fresh mixture that entered the IRZ. This is the re-ignition phase of the precursor event. © 2018 Elsevier Ltd.