Definition

Noun: * An uncontrolled fire in a wooded area: A large, destructive fire that spreads rapidly through a forest, consuming trees, brush, and other vegetation. These fires can be started naturally (e.g., by lightning) or by human activity and are characterized by being difficult or impossible to control.

Usage and Examples

• Noun:
  • The drought conditions have created a high risk of forest fire.
  • Smoke from the forest fire could be seen for miles.
  • Firefighters worked for weeks to contain the massive forest fire.

Advanced Usage

• "To fight a forest fire": To engage in the activity of attempting to control and extinguish a forest fire.
  • Specialized aircraft are often used to fight a forest fire.
• "Forest fire season": A period of the year, typically hot and dry, when conditions are most favorable for forest fires to start and spread.
  • Residents were advised to be extra cautious during the forest fire season.

Variants and Related Words

• Wildfire (n): A more general term for any large, destructive fire that spreads quickly over woodland or brush. Often used interchangeably with "forest fire," though it can also refer to fires in grasslands or other wildlands.
  • The wildfire forced the evacuation of several towns.
• Brushfire (n): A fire that consumes low-lying vegetation like brush and shrubs, which may occur in or near forested areas.
  • The brushfire was quickly contained before it reached the forest.

Synonyms

• Wildfire: An uncontrolled fire in a countryside or wilderness area.
• Bushfire (common in Australian English): A fire in scrubland or forests.

Related Phrases and Collocations

• Forest fire prevention: Measures taken to reduce the risk of forest fires starting.
  • Public education is a key part of forest fire prevention.
• Forest fire damage: The destruction caused by a forest fire.
  • The ecological forest fire damage will take decades to repair.
• Out of control forest fire: A forest fire that is spreading uncontrollably.
  • The out of control forest fire threatened a national park.

Noun

1. an uncontrolled fire in a wooded area