brush fire
Fast-spreading ground fire
A brush fire is a fire burning through dry vegetation—shrubs, grass, and low undergrowth rather than tall timber.
Brush fires spread quickly across open terrain, especially in arid regions: The brush fire consumed three hundred acres before crews contained it.
Figuratively, brush fire describes something that flares up suddenly and threatens to spread: brush-fire wars, brush-fire protests.
Dense, drought-adapted shrubbery
- grasslandTreeless herb-covered ecosystem
- scrublandArea of low shrubs
- hillsideSloping terrain face
- canyonDeep river-cut gorge
ridge · wildland · underbrush · eucalyptus · sagebrush · slope · gully · vegetation
Intense burning fire
- infernoDevastating, uncontrollable blaze
- conflagrationLarge destructive blaze
- firestormSelf-perpetuating intense blaze
- embersSmoldering fire remnants
combustion · ignite · burning · scorching · char · sparks · flaring · kindle
Removal from danger
- firefightersEmergency personnel combating blazes
- containmentPreventing hostile expansion
- suppressionForcible prevention or concealment
- firebreakCleared barrier against flames
backburn · perimeter · control · 911 · sirens · helicopter · tanker · mop-up
Murky atmospheric suspension
- ashCombustion's powdery remains
- sootCarbon from incomplete burning
- particulatesMinute airborne solids or droplets
- fumesAirborne chemical irritants
plume · billowing · inhalation · respiratory · visibility · drift · choking · acrid
Prolonged water scarcity
- tinderCombustible material for ignition
- kindlingMaterial for starting fires
- flammableProne to ignition
- combustibleCapable of burning
dryness · heatwave · ignition · risk · firetrap · accelerant · wind · conditions
Atmospheric electrical discharge
- arsonCriminal deliberate burning
- powerlineElevated electrical conductor
- campfireOutdoor fire for gathering
- cigarettePaper-wrapped tobacco cylinder
spark · natural · electrical · equipment · negligence · investigation · origin · accidental
Destroying all resources before retreat
- devastationSevere widespread destruction
- destructionAct of completely ruining
- charredBurned until black
- blackenedDarkened by burning
recovery · regrowth · erosion · mudslide · deforestation · rebuilding · displaced · insurance
chaparral
Dense, drought-adapted shrubbery
canyon · ridge · wildland · underbrush · eucalyptus · sagebrush · slope · gully · vegetation · outback
blaze
Intense burning fire
- infernoDevastating, uncontrollable blaze
- conflagrationLarge destructive blaze
- firestormSelf-perpetuating intense blaze
embers · combustion · ignite · burning · scorching · char · sparks · flaring · kindle · cinders
evacuation
Removal from danger
- firefightersEmergency personnel combating blazes
- containmentPreventing hostile expansion
- suppressionForcible prevention or concealment
firebreak · backburn · perimeter · control · 911 · sirens · helicopter · tanker · mop-up · bulldozer
haze
Murky atmospheric suspension
- ashCombustion's powdery remains
- sootCarbon from incomplete burning
- particulatesMinute airborne solids or droplets
fumes · plume · billowing · inhalation · respiratory · visibility · drift · choking · acrid · blanket
drought
Prolonged water scarcity
- tinderCombustible material for ignition
- kindlingMaterial for starting fires
- flammableProne to ignition
combustible · dryness · heatwave · ignition · risk · firetrap · accelerant · wind · conditions · spark
lightning
Atmospheric electrical discharge
- arsonCriminal deliberate burning
- powerlineElevated electrical conductor
- campfireOutdoor fire for gathering
cigarette · spark · natural · electrical · equipment · negligence · investigation · origin · accidental · deliberate
scorched-earth
Destroying all resources before retreat
- devastationSevere widespread destruction
- destructionAct of completely ruining
- charredBurned until black
blackened · recovery · regrowth · erosion · mudslide · deforestation · rebuilding · displaced · insurance · assessment
- fire hazardswildfire, gasoline, matches, lighters, blaze
- Droughtwater shortage, dry spell, dry spells, no rain, low rainfall
- arsonarson, arsonist, arson investigator, arson investigation, attempted arson
- dry woodlandsoak woodland, woodland, mallee, chaparral, maquis
- eco-disastersclimate collapse, oil spill, ocean warming, coral bleaching, biodiversity loss
- drylands
brush firecontrolled burn
Intentional fire for land management
prescribed fire · campfire · hearth fire · bonfire · fireplace