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

Those include climate change, as brush fires and changes in fish migration patterns threaten locals’ livelihoods.

From The Wall Street Journal

In October, federal investigators announced the Palisades fire appeared to explode from a small brush fire still smoldering from a week prior.

From Los Angeles Times

The day of a 2.3- acre brush fire near Janss Road in Thousand Oaks last month, a drone team flew the blaze’s footprint and identified hot spots to help firefighters mop up.

From Los Angeles Times

October is typically the peak of Southern California’s fire season, when Santa Ana winds paired with dry conditions after summer allow flames to explode into major brush fires.

From Los Angeles Times