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• 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.

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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

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

A second brush fire was reported in the Juniper Springs area of Riverside County at 12:20 p.m.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 20, 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

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

From "Dread Nation" by Justina Ireland

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

From Washington Post

He stands for more: more air defense, more brush-fire war strength, more civil defense, more missiles.

From Time Magazine Archive

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

From Time Magazine Archive

It meant that in theory the U.S. was prepared to fight three wars at the same time — one in Europe, another in Asia and a "brush-fire" war somewhere else.

From Time Magazine Archive

But Smith, who had seen the sudden brush-fire of his eyes, seized hold of his arm protectively.

From The Mantooth by Leadem, Christopher