Bad fire in branch (8)
I believe the answer is:
offshoot
'branch' is the definition.
('offshoot' can be a synonym of 'branch')
'bad fire' is the wordplay.
'bad' becomes 'off' (I've seen this before).
'fire' becomes 'shoot' (shooting is a kind of firing).
'off'+'shoot'='OFFSHOOT'
'in' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for offshoot that I've seen before include "sequel?" , "Branch; spin-off" , "new branch" , "Branch, derivative" , "Derivative; scion" .)