as in blazes
a fire in a wild area (such as a forest) that is not controlled and that can burn a large area very quickly
The recent wildfires were made worse by the strong winds.
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Recent Examples of wildfires
During the height of the 2025 fire season, the Salinas Fire Department shared a photo of Harry with firefighters alongside Cruz and Taffy, therapy dogs who support crews responding to wildfires and other emergencies.
—
Erin Hill, PEOPLE, 16 Jan. 2026
Southern California is prone to different types of disasters from strong winds, earthquakes, floods and wildfires.
—Amy Johnson, CBS News, 15 Jan. 2026
This will reinforce the colder temperatures on Saturday and keep an elevated threat of fast-spreading wildfires in place through Sunday.
—Mary Wasson, Austin American Statesman, 15 Jan. 2026
Monthly San Diego Gas & Electric bills will increase by an average of $5 for the next three years after the California Public Utilities Commission on Thursday approved spending that SDG&E racked up between 2019 and 2022 to reduce the risk of wildfires.
—Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Jan. 2026
They can be caused by natural disasters, such as in Maui in 2023 when wildfires killed over 100 people and knocked out cell signal, leaving people confused about what to do.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 15 Jan. 2026
Another recent study that looked at five major wildfires in California from the last decade, not including the 2025 Eaton and Palisades fires, found that 20% of homes with significant vegetation in Zone Zero survived, compared to 37% of homes that had cleared the vegetation.
—Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2026
But the fires also presented a moment to learn crucial missing information about the health effects of wildfires to help those affected and to better protect people's health from the inevitable next ones.
—Alejandra Borunda, NPR, 14 Jan. 2026
One year after two major wildfires tore through opposite sides of Los Angeles County, recovery for thousands of families remains far from complete.
—Sarah Alegre, FOXNews.com, 12 Jan. 2026
Erin Hill, PEOPLE, 16 Jan. 2026
Southern California is prone to different types of disasters from strong winds, earthquakes, floods and wildfires.
—Amy Johnson, CBS News, 15 Jan. 2026
This will reinforce the colder temperatures on Saturday and keep an elevated threat of fast-spreading wildfires in place through Sunday.
—Mary Wasson, Austin American Statesman, 15 Jan. 2026
Monthly San Diego Gas & Electric bills will increase by an average of $5 for the next three years after the California Public Utilities Commission on Thursday approved spending that SDG&E racked up between 2019 and 2022 to reduce the risk of wildfires.
—Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Jan. 2026
They can be caused by natural disasters, such as in Maui in 2023 when wildfires killed over 100 people and knocked out cell signal, leaving people confused about what to do.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 15 Jan. 2026
Another recent study that looked at five major wildfires in California from the last decade, not including the 2025 Eaton and Palisades fires, found that 20% of homes with significant vegetation in Zone Zero survived, compared to 37% of homes that had cleared the vegetation.
—Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2026
But the fires also presented a moment to learn crucial missing information about the health effects of wildfires to help those affected and to better protect people's health from the inevitable next ones.
—Alejandra Borunda, NPR, 14 Jan. 2026
One year after two major wildfires tore through opposite sides of Los Angeles County, recovery for thousands of families remains far from complete.
—Sarah Alegre, FOXNews.com, 12 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wildfires
Noun
-
Five car fires occurred between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day in neighborhoods near Fox Run Park, and investigators have reason to believe the blazes are linked, the Fire Department told the Star-Telegram.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Jan. 2026
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The proclamation also mentions the Tubbs, Camp and North Complex blazes of recent years.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Sounds of gunfire had faded; there were no new bonfires.—
Benjamin Wallace-Wells,
New Yorker,
17 Jan. 2026
-
In Iran’s capital, Tehran, witnesses said recent mornings showed no new signs of bonfires lit the night before or debris in the streets.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
15 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wildfires.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wildfires. Accessed 22 Jan. 2026.
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