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
Aurora Beacon-News, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2025
Listen to this article An arsonist was sentenced this week to more than 13 years in prison for setting two brush fires in East County last fall, the District Attorney’s Office said Thursday.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Apr. 2025
The Baltimore County Fire Department deployed crews to extinguish a two-acre brush fire in White Hall Thursday afternoon, the area's second brush fire in as many days.
—Racquel Bazos, Baltimore Sun, 27 Mar. 2025
These conditions are actively fueling a large brush fire in southeast Miami-Dade in Homestead and near Florida City that has caused traffic mayhem, intermittently shutting down the only routes into the Florida Keys for days.
—Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for brushfire
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
On Monday morning, the St. Charles Fire Department responded to a brush fire on the 4000 block of Lincoln Highway in St. Charles, according to a press release from the fire department on Monday.
—Aurora Beacon-News, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2025
Listen to this article An arsonist was sentenced this week to more than 13 years in prison for setting two brush fires in East County last fall, the District Attorney’s Office said Thursday.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Apr. 2025
The Baltimore County Fire Department deployed crews to extinguish a two-acre brush fire in White Hall Thursday afternoon, the area's second brush fire in as many days.
—Racquel Bazos, Baltimore Sun, 27 Mar. 2025
These conditions are actively fueling a large brush fire in southeast Miami-Dade in Homestead and near Florida City that has caused traffic mayhem, intermittently shutting down the only routes into the Florida Keys for days.
—Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for brushfire
Cite this Entry
“Brushfire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brushfire. Accessed 24 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share