Jump To:

• brush fire
  brush fire

  noun

  a fire in an area of bushes, shrubs, or brush, as distinct from a forest fire.
• brush-fire
  brush-fire

  adjective

  limited in scope, area, or importance, as some labor disputes or local skirmishes.

brush fire

¹ American  

noun

1. a fire in an area of bushes, shrubs, or brush, as distinct from a forest fire.

2. any small but persistent problem, as within a large organization, a department of a government, or between nations.

   border skirmishes and other international brush fires.

---

brush-fire ² American  

[bruhsh-fahy^uhr] / ˈbrʌʃˌfaɪər /

Or brushfire

adjective

1. limited in scope, area, or importance, as some labor disputes or local skirmishes.

---

brush fire British  

noun

1. a fire in bushes and scrub

2. a minor local war

---

Etymology

Origin of brush fire¹

An Americanism dating back to 1770–80

Origin of brush-fire²

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

brush fire brush-fire

Reports in French media say the blaze, near one of the parking lots at the airport, originated from a brush fire and then spread to a building.

From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026

Firefighters have dropped fire retardant around the brush fire, Sherwin said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026

Earlier this week, crews battled small blazes in Montecito Heights, Encino and Sylmar, where a brush fire prompted extended lane closures of the 5 Freeway.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026

A brush fire broke out Monday in the suburbs of Los Angeles, spreading rapidly and prompting authorities to issue evacuation orders for thousands of residents.

From Barron's ● May 19, 2026

But this time, it spread fast as a brush fire on a windy day.

From "Beauty Queens" by Libba Bray

This approach would mimic the brush-fire pattern of the epidemic at the moment.

From Washington Post

First is the traditional American hankering for outdoor life, perhaps heightened by the brush-fire spread of urbanization.

From Time Magazine Archive

The Army, while woefully in need of air transport, is streamlining itself so that it can quickly be flown to brush-fire war areas.

From Time Magazine Archive

One reason: a brush-fire price war has broken out among the airlines.

From Time Magazine Archive

The chimneys and the roof and the windows of the house showing no sign of smoke, he explored farther; and presently located the odor's origin in a small brush-fire at some distance behind the stables.

From Further Adventures of Lad by Terhune, Albert Payson