fire brigade
noun/ˈfaɪə(ɹ)bɹɪˌɡeɪd/
1
Firefighting, Government US A group of people within a corporation or industrial site, organized for the purpose of extinguishing fires, usually in addition to their normal job.
2
Firefighting, Government Ireland, UK An organization, often part of a local government, whose purpose is preventing and putting out fires.
3
Government, Military, Politics, War US A trained unit that can be rapidly deployed to deal with any difficult situation.
- General Westmoreland used some incoming troops as a fire brigade to squelch major threats and keep the Communists off balance.1976, The Encyclopedia Americana, volume 28, page 112:
- Derived terms
- call the fire brigade
- Related terms
- bucket brigade, fire engine, fire house, fire station