Wildfires

Directions:

Write at least 3 paragraphs of at least 4 “complete” and “meaningful” and “reasonably long” sentences each. The first thing I will do when grading is count paragraphs and sentences. Please double-space. At the bottom of the page, please list the websites/sources you visited for information (just the website address is okay, this is not a formal “Works Cited” section). Do NOT plagiarize; use your OWN words (I will check).

Address the following:

Wildfire activity is increasing in recent years, and is likely to continue. It is important to have some basic information about what to do in case of a wildfire threat, because you may live in an area that is at-risk (or may do so in the future). Address all or most of the following questions as you write. You don’t need to state the questions or number them, just incorporate these ideas in your writing:

What is a wildfire? What causes them? Why are they a threat? What weather conditions influence them? What role does global warming play? How can someone stay safe while living under threat? What would you bring along if you had to evacuate your residence in the next half hour, due to a wildfire? What about if you only had a 5-minute warning? Where would you go if you had to leave? Do you have a plan for your pets (if any)? What if you don’t live in an area where this is a threat, but the utilities company was planning on cutting your power; do you have working flashlights, etc.?

I hope that this extra credit assignment makes you stop and think about the threat of wildfires, and what that means to you. You should have a plan in place so you know what to do if this event occurs (and may affect you where you live, either now or in the future). It may not be practical to keep an evacuation kit ready, but at least KEEP A LIST of items you would take and also where they are located, so that you can go get the items if needed. It is important to be prepared!