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.

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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.

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brush fire British  

noun

1. a fire in bushes and scrub

2. a minor local war

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Etymology

Origin of brush fire¹

An Americanism dating back to 1770–80

Origin of brush-fire²

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

After a 2.3-acre brush fire ignited near Janss Road in Thousand Oaks last October, a drone team flew over the blaze’s footprint and identified hot spots to help firefighters mop up that same day.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 30, 2026

A brush fire ignited near homes in San Diego County on Monday afternoon, damaging multiple structures and prompting evacuation orders in the surrounding community of Lakeside.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 8, 2025

The Los Angeles County Fire Department said it responded to a brush fire around 9:48 p.m. on Soledad Canyon Road.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 23, 2025

Sheriff’s officials were directly involved in the emergency response to the explosion and the brush fire that followed, but have not been involved in the ongoing investigation, according to authorities.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 22, 2025

Word of Katherine not feeling well gets around quicker than a brush fire in August.

From "Dread Nation" by Justina Ireland