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
Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2024
Ordinarily, in order to protect a home from an advancing brush fire, firefighters have to dig a dry-vegetation-free trench around the dwelling.
—Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 11 Sep. 2024
Salt Lake City Police Department Officials did not know the exact cause or origin of the brush fire, which grew to 150 acres.
—CBS News, 21 July 2024
Rates will double for the five policyholders in Sunol, a town in the hills east of Fremont that has seen its share of brush fires this summer.
—Kate Talerico, The Mercury News, 29 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for brushfire 
Noun
And Powers and cameraman George Spears died in a crash in the San Fernando Valley in August 1977, returning from shooting footage of brush fires near Santa Barbara.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2024
Ordinarily, in order to protect a home from an advancing brush fire, firefighters have to dig a dry-vegetation-free trench around the dwelling.
—Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 11 Sep. 2024
Salt Lake City Police Department Officials did not know the exact cause or origin of the brush fire, which grew to 150 acres.
—CBS News, 21 July 2024
Rates will double for the five policyholders in Sunol, a town in the hills east of Fremont that has seen its share of brush fires this summer.
—Kate Talerico, The Mercury News, 29 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for brushfire
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.
Dictionary Entries Near brushfire
Cite this Entry
“Brushfire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brushfire. Accessed 30 Sep. 2024.
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