Eaton Fire

High school (ages 12+)
Environment & Earth

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/eaton-fire

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the date of commencement?Evening of January 7, 2025
2. What is the geographic origin?Eaton Canyon, San Gabriel Mountains, Los Angeles County, California
3. What was the Eaton Fire and when did it start?It was a wildfire that started on the evening of January 7, 2025 in Eaton Canyon, part of the San Gabriel Mountains.
4. Why did the Eaton Fire spread so quickly?Strong Santa Ana winds pushed the fire downhill into towns, making it spread fast and hard to stop.

Santa Ana Winds: Seasonal offshore winds in Southern California known for their high speed, low humidity, and propensity to exacerbate wildfire conditions.
Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI): The zone where human development meets or intermingles with undeveloped wildland areas, increasing wildfire risk.
Chaparral: A dense, shrubland ecosystem common in Mediterranean climates, characterized by drought-resistant plants highly flammable during dry periods.
Embers: Small, glowing particles of burning material carried by wind, capable of igniting new fires ahead of the main fire front.