Wildfires Devastate Los Angeles
Ask students: When did the fires affecting the Los Angeles area begin? What conditions have led to these Los Angeles–area fires being so difficult to control?
Wildfires accelerated by historically strong winds have created extreme conditions for millions of people in the Los Angeles region. Winds of 70 to 80 mph allowed it to quickly spread over thousands of acres. Geoff Bennett discussed the latest with Pasadena Fire Chief Chad Augustin.
View the transcript of the story.
Discussion Questions
- Who is interviewed for this story, and what is his background?
- When did the fires affecting the Los Angeles area begin?
- What conditions have led to these Los Angeles–area fires being so difficult to control?
- Why are area firefighters struggling with resources needed to contain the spread of the fires?
- How have agencies outside of Los Angeles been helping to fight the fires?
Focus Questions
How do you think a large city like Los Angeles could better prepare for wildfires, which are becoming increasingly common in California?
Media literacy: Why do you think this segment focuses on an interview with one fire chief? What expertise is he able to provide to help inform viewers? Who else would you want to hear from to understand the impact of the fires?
Extension Activity
Students can follow developments here, as firefighters try to contain multiple blazes. You can also watch the video below for more background on the fires.
Lesson Plans on Climate Change
Explore more resources for educators to find a wide-range of relevant preK-12 lessons on climate change or supporting young people as they continue to lead the conversation around the climate change crisis.
Republished with permission from PBS NewsHour Classroom.
PBS NewsHour Classroom helps teachers and students identify the who, what, where and why-it-matters of the major national and international news stories. The site combines the best of NewsHour's reliable, trustworthy news program with lesson plans developed specifically for... See More
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