If something, especially news or a rumour, spreads like wildfire, it spreads extremely quickly. These stories are spreading like wildfire through the city. a fire that moves quickly and cannot be controlled spread like wildfire spread (2)
Unplanned fire requiring suppression action Can be contrasted with a prescribed fire that burns within prepared lines, enclosing a designated area, under predetermined conditions
A wildfire is a fire that starts, usually by itself, in a wild area such as a forest, and spreads rapidly, causing great damage. a wildfire in Montana that's already burned thousands of acres of rich grassland
(1) A fire requiring suppression action, as contrasted with a prescribed fire burning with prepared lines enclosing a designated area, under prescribed conditions (2) A free burning fire
Any fire other than a controlled burn or a prescribed burn, occurring on wildland A free-burning fire unaffected by fire suppression measures They frequently need to be suppressed, but in some areas they are allowed to burn for ecological or economic reasons