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Synonyms

fire brigade

American  

noun

  1. a group of firefighters, especially as formed temporarily or called upon to assist a fire department in an emergency.

  2. a small fire department privately employed by an institution.


fire brigade British  

noun

  1. an organized body of firefighters

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of fire brigade

First recorded in 1825–35

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He told a state parliament committee the police did not have the right to search the bank at the time, as it was a matter for the fire brigade.

From BBC • Feb. 14, 2026

The fire brigade had to be called overnight after a burst pipe in the Louvre's Denon wing, which houses some of the museum's most valuable exhibits including the Mona Lisa, according to a statement.

From Barron's • Feb. 13, 2026

Specialised divers from the fire brigade assisted residents on inflatable boats, AFP journalists saw.

From Barron's • Feb. 5, 2026

The hole into the underground vault room was discovered when a fire alarm went off in the early hours of Monday, and police and the fire brigade searched the building.

From BBC • Dec. 30, 2025

No puddles gleam in the gravel, no fire brigade swarms out front.

From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr