blazes

A blaze is a bright flame or fire, or anything burning with intense heat and light. It also denotes a sudden display of brightness, as in a blaze of color or sunlight. As a verb, to blaze means to burn brightly or to flash suddenly; to blaze a trail means to mark a route through an area so that others can follow.

In outdoor contexts, blazes are trail markers. Crews use blazes painted on trees or posts, or carved notches, to indicate the direction or course of a path. The system is designed to be visible and long-lasting, but can degrade with weather and vegetation, potentially leading to navigation errors if not maintained.

In fire terminology, a blaze is a large, uncontrolled fire, such as a brush or forest blaze. Fire agencies monitor blazes as incidents requiring suppression and resources, with terminology such as contain, extinguish, and evacuate as needed.

The term appears in idiomatic English, for example in phrases like "a blaze of glory" or "in a blaze of light," describing dramatic displays. In informal slang, blaze can also refer to smoking marijuana; usage varies by region and context.