brush·fire
ˈbrəsh-ˌfī(-ə)r 
: involving mobilization only on a small and local scale
brushfire border wars
1
: a fire involving low-growing plants (such as scrub and brush)
2
: a minor conflict or crisis
putting out political brush fires
Examples of brushfire in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
U-T Staff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 May 2024
Investigations said that the fire was accidental, attributing it to an unattended brush fire, according to the release.
—Aegis Staff Report, Baltimore Sun, 9 Apr. 2024
The two men had worked with a grinder when sparks from the equipment started a brush fire, according to the Cochise County Sheriff's Office.
—Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 24 Apr. 2024
In the southern portion of West Virginia, at least five brush fires were reported on Wednesday, with some burning hundreds of acres.
—Remy Tumin, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2024
Prince William County firefighters were dispatched to 39 outside and brush fires beginning about noon Wednesday, including large fires in the 4700 block of Locust Shade Drive and near Richmond Highway and Russell Road, where northbound traffic was blocked.
—Ian Livingston, Washington Post, 20 Mar. 2024
Dinah Voyles Pulver Joyce Blankenship, an 83-year-old grandmother of four, died inside her home in February when a single brush fire exploded in size in just 24 hours, racing across the landscape, burning her home and others in Stinnett, Texas.
—USA TODAY, 24 Mar. 2024
For ground crews and commanders working the small brush fire in the Riverside County community of Cabazon, word that something had gone horribly wrong crackled over their radios at 6:48 p.m. — roughly an hour before sunset.
—Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2023
The areas include one affected by brush fires and another within the city of Santa Barbara.
—Katherine Itoh, NBC News, 3 Feb. 2024
Noun
With the recent fire at the battery facility in Otay Mesa, the fire at the water reclamation plant in Santee and a few brush fires, From the Archives went looking for firefighter pictures and found this photo of a San Diego department fire crew with Aerial Truck No. 1.
—U-T Staff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 May 2024
Investigations said that the fire was accidental, attributing it to an unattended brush fire, according to the release.
—Aegis Staff Report, Baltimore Sun, 9 Apr. 2024
The two men had worked with a grinder when sparks from the equipment started a brush fire, according to the Cochise County Sheriff's Office.
—Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 24 Apr. 2024
In the southern portion of West Virginia, at least five brush fires were reported on Wednesday, with some burning hundreds of acres.
—Remy Tumin, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2024
Prince William County firefighters were dispatched to 39 outside and brush fires beginning about noon Wednesday, including large fires in the 4700 block of Locust Shade Drive and near Richmond Highway and Russell Road, where northbound traffic was blocked.
—Ian Livingston, Washington Post, 20 Mar. 2024
Dinah Voyles Pulver Joyce Blankenship, an 83-year-old grandmother of four, died inside her home in February when a single brush fire exploded in size in just 24 hours, racing across the landscape, burning her home and others in Stinnett, Texas.
—USA TODAY, 24 Mar. 2024
For ground crews and commanders working the small brush fire in the Riverside County community of Cabazon, word that something had gone horribly wrong crackled over their radios at 6:48 p.m. — roughly an hour before sunset.
—Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2023
The areas include one affected by brush fires and another within the city of Santa Barbara.
—Katherine Itoh, NBC News, 3 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'brushfire.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Brushfire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brushfire. Accessed 27 May. 2024.
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