Earth science Fire

El Niño and La Niña

Wind and ocean patterns in the Pacific Ocean that strongly affect wildfire conditions on the U.S. West Coast

El Niño

Creates warmer and drier than normal conditions in the United States, increasing wildfire risk

Drought

A long period with little rain that dries out soil and plants, making fires more likely

Drought Monitoring

Drought levels are tracked weekly to monitor wildfire risk

Wildfire Prediction

Scientists use weather data to predict wildfires like hurricanes and thunderstorms

Prediction Timeline

Wildfire predictions are made 1–8 days in advance

Red Flag Warning

Issued when dangerous fire weather conditions exist, putting the public and emergency services on high alert

Stages of a Fire

The four stages are ignition, growth, fully developed, and decay

Fire Monitoring

Scientists use satellite data and ground reports to track fire movement and plan evacuations

Ignition

The stage when a fire first starts

Natural Cause of Ignition

Lightning strikes

Human Cause of Ignition

Electrical equipment failures or accidents such as gender reveal parties

Growth

The fire spreads and consumes fuel like dry plants and timber

Stopping Growth Stage Fires

Firebreaks, back burning, and fire suppressants can stop the fire

Fully Developed

The fire reaches peak heat and spreads extremely fast

Fire Spread Speed

Can spread across multiple football fields in one minute

Challenges of Fully Developed Fires

Fires are difficult to contain and often rely on rain to help stop them

Decay

The fire begins to die due to firefighting efforts or weather changes

Smoldering

Areas with no visible flames that can still reignite

Wildfire Recovery

The period after a fire when communities and emergency services remain alert

Post-Fire Hazards

Landslides are common after wildfires

Fire Investigation

Investigators determine the cause of the fire and lawsuits may follow

Ecological Recovery

Some trees need fire to release their seeds