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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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

brush fire brush-fire

A brush fire in the mountains west of Los Angeles prompted evacuation warnings from officials on Thursday, as powerful winds risked spreading the blaze rapidly.

From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026

Whether it’s a brush fire, a mass shooting, a car chase or the aftermath of a major storm, viewers in Los Angeles are used to getting the news from above.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026

A brush fire erupted Wednesday afternoon along the 405 Freeway, threatening homes, a university and the Getty Center, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 10, 2026

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

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

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

Now that the cold war is over, Third World conflicts no longer figure as potential victories or losses for the U.S. or the Soviet Union, ironically making the world safer for brush-fire wars and insurrections.

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 Christopher Leadem

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