brush·fire
ˈbrəsh-ˌfī(-ə)r 
: involving mobilization only on a small and local scale
brushfire border wars
1
: a fire involving low-growing plants (such as scrub and brush)
2
: a minor conflict or crisis
putting out political brush fires
Examples of brushfire in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
27 June 2026
On June 9, witnesses reported seeing a man start a small brush fire in a field behind the Wal-Mart on Camino Arroyo, according to the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office.
—
Jason Green,
Mercury News,
24 June 2026
More than 20,000 acres were burned after a brush fire broke out between Southwest 120th Avenue and 137th Ave due to lightning during a thunderstorm.
—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
22 June 2026
Minutes later, the department received a call about the brush fire that Rinderknecht is accused of sparking.
—
ABC News,
22 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for brushfire
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Noun
Riverside County firefighters battled a brush fire burning near the World Logistics Center in Moreno Valley on Saturday.
—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
27 June 2026
On June 9, witnesses reported seeing a man start a small brush fire in a field behind the Wal-Mart on Camino Arroyo, according to the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office.
—
Jason Green,
Mercury News,
24 June 2026
More than 20,000 acres were burned after a brush fire broke out between Southwest 120th Avenue and 137th Ave due to lightning during a thunderstorm.
—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
22 June 2026
Minutes later, the department received a call about the brush fire that Rinderknecht is accused of sparking.
—
ABC News,
22 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for brushfire
Cite this Entry
“Brushfire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brushfire. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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