1. a fire that spreads rapidly through brush, grass, and small trees, typically in dry areas

1. relating to or denoting a small, localized conflict or crisis that threatens to spread or escalate
Usage: figurative

Examples

• The brushfire spread across the hillside in less than an hour.
• Firefighters worked through the night to contain the brushfire before it reached the town.
• The region is prone to brushfires during the dry season.
• The scandal started as a brushfire but quickly became a major political crisis.
• The company tried to handle the brushfire complaint before it escalated into a lawsuit.
• Brushfire wars in the region have destabilized the area for years.