Where There’s Smoke, There’s Fire: Is Climate Connected to Very Large Wildland Fires?
In this article, scientists explore if and how climate and weather are connected to very large wildland fires to help predict and prepare for future events.
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Where There's Smoke, There's Fire (Time Warp Monograph Series) - Vol. 1 No. 14
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Results from “Where There’s Smoke, There’s Fire” showed that specific climate conditions were linked to very large wildland fires. The link was most clear when analyzing biophysical observations. These biophysical...FACTivity – Where There’s Smoke, There’s Fire
Results from “Where There’s Smoke, There’s Fire” showed that specific climate conditions were linked to very large wildland fires. The link was most clear when analyzing biophysical observations. These biophysical...
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As you have learned in the “Where There’s Smoke, There’s Fire” Introduction section, wildland fire is an important research topic. Forest Service scientists have long been interested in wildland fire....Spotlight – Time Warp for Where There’s Smoke, There’s Fire
As you have learned in the “Where There’s Smoke, There’s Fire” Introduction section, wildland fire is an important research topic. Forest Service scientists have long been interested in wildland fire....
Glossary
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Natasha Stavros
My favorite science experience is learning about fire and its role in the earth sciences. Fire has touched my life in a personal way because I grew up in Southern...View Profile -
John Abatzoglou
My favorite science experience is exploring the large amount of historical weather and climate data. I also like to look at climate data from models. I use the climate data...View Profile -
E. Ashley Steel
“I have so many favorite science experiences! One cool science experience was when I was standing right in the middle of the Snoqualmie River. I was thinking about how my...View Profile
Standards addressed in this Article:
Social Studies Standards
- Culture
- Global Connections
- Individuals, Groups, and Institutions
- People, Places, and Environments
- Power, Authority, and Governance
- Science, Technology, and Society
- Time, Continuity, and Change
Note To Educators
The Forest Service's Mission
The Forest Service’s mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. For more than 100 years, our motto has been “caring for the land and serving people.” The Forest Service, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), recognizes its responsibility to be engaged in efforts to connect youth to nature and to promote the development of science-based conservation education programs and materials nationwide.
What Is the Natural Inquirer?
Natural Inquirer is a science education resource journal to be used by students in grade 6 and up. Natural Inquirer contains articles describing environmental and natural resource research conducted by Forest Service scientists and their cooperators. These scientific journal articles have been reformatted to meet the needs of middle school students. The articles are easy to understand, are aesthetically pleasing to the eye, contain glossaries, and include hands-on activities. The goal of Natural Inquirer is to stimulate critical reading and thinking about scientific inquiry and investigation while teaching about ecology, the natural environment, and natural resources.
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Meet the Scientists
Introduces students to the scientists who did the research. This section may be used in a discussion about careers in science.
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What Kinds of Scientist Did This Research?
Introduces students to the scientific disciplines of the scientists who conducted the research.
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Thinking About Science
Introduces something new about the scientific process, such as a scientific habit of mind or procedures used in scientific studies.
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Thinking About the Environment
Introduces the environmental topic being addressed in the research.
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Introduction
Introduces the problem or question that the research addresses.
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Method
Describes the method the scientists used to collect and analyze their data.
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Findings & Discussion
Describes the results of the analysis. Addresses the findings and places them into the context of the original problem or question.
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Reflection Section
Presents questions aimed at stimulating critical thinking about what has been read or predicting what might be presented in the next section. These questions are placed at the end of each of the main article sections.
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Number Crunches
Presents an easy math problem related to the research.
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Glossary
Defines potentially new scientific or other terms to students. The first occurrence of a glossary word is bold in the text.
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Citation
Gives the original article citation with an internet link to the original article.
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FACTivity
Presents a hands-on activity that emphasizes something presented in the article.
Science Education Standards
You will find a listing of education standards which are addressed by each article at the back of each publication and on our website.
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Contact
Jessica Nickelsen
Director, Natural Inquirer program -
Email
Lessons
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This lesson plan encourages students to think about a particular research topic across time, including past, present, and future. Students will compare and contrast the historical research with a more...Lesson Plan – Time Warp Monograph Series
This lesson plan encourages students to think about a particular research topic across time, including past, present, and future. Students will compare and contrast the historical research with a more... -
This lesson plan introduces students to the important components of a simple newspaper article and then has students write a newspaper article sharing information from a Natural Inquirer article. This...Lesson Plan – Newspaper Article
This lesson plan introduces students to the important components of a simple newspaper article and then has students write a newspaper article sharing information from a Natural Inquirer article. This...
Education Files
Project Learning Tree
If you are a trained Project Learning Tree educator, you may use “Living With Fire” and “Rain Reasons” as additional resources.
Related Resources from the Natural Inquirer
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Successfully predicting where and when wildfires might occur is important. This prediction is important because of possible environmental and economic damage. As the climate warms, the possibility of wildfires might...Fire and Water: Predicting Future Wildfires in a Changing Climate
Successfully predicting where and when wildfires might occur is important. This prediction is important because of possible environmental and economic damage. As the climate warms, the possibility of wildfires might... -
This edition of the Natural Inquirer is all about wildland fire. You will learn about the benefits of wildland fire, as well as some of its dangers. You will learn...Wildland Fire – Vol. 4 No. 1
This edition of the Natural Inquirer is all about wildland fire. You will learn about the benefits of wildland fire, as well as some of its dangers. You will learn...
Additional Resources
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National Interagency Fire Center: Geographic Area Coordination Centers
Visit WebsiteThe United States and Alaska are divided into 11 Geographic Areas for the purpose of incident management and mobilization of resources (people, aircraft, ground equipment). Within each Area, an interagency Geographic Area Coordinating Group (GACG), made up of Fire Directors from each of the Federal and State land management agencies from within the Area, is established. Learn more about your GACG.
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USDA Forest Service: National Fire Danger Rating System
Visit WebsiteLearn more about the National Fire Danger Rating system and see ratings near you.
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USDA Forest Service: Fire and Aviation Management
Visit WebsiteLearn more about Fire and Aviation Management in the Forest Service.
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National Park Service: Fire and Aviation Management
Visit WebsiteLearn more about fire from the National Park Service.