Wildfires are fires that are unplanned and burn out of control. They occur outside of cities, in ____1____ areas that have lots of vegetation. Causes of these blazes include lightning strikes, fireworks, and campfires, or sometimes ____2_____ – when someone purposely sets an area on fire. 

Wildfires can burn wildly for days or weeks at a time. Several factors make a wildfire continue to burn longer.  The main reason is the wind. Wind adds ____3____ to the fire, making it burn stronger, and it pushes the fire in new directions. Blazes that move up a slope, or hill, tend to increase in energy as new fuel is consumed. The higher the temperature, the more intense the fire will burn. As heat increases, the soil and trees become less moist, which leads to a stronger fire. Dry trees, bushes, and shrubs – known together as  _____4_____ – provide life for the fire. If all these elements come together, it can be difficult to put the fire out.

The effects of these incidents can be devastating. One toll that wildfires take is on the economy of a region. They can spread to inhabited areas, where they can destroy people’s houses. It also costs a significant amount of money to fight these fires. Helicopters, planes, chemicals, and personnel to help combat large fires can cost millions of dollars. The environmental impact can be severe. The temperature of some wildfires can reach over ____5____° F! When heat is that intense, microorganisms in soil are wiped out and can affect the ecosystem for years. Erosion increases, water runoff escalates, and soil loses much of its ability to drain.

Often, these ____6____ disasters can be prevented. One way that experts minimize the risk of fire is a controlled burn, where organized fires are set on purpose to decrease fuel that may go up in flames in a wildfire. Many of the causes have to do with people being ____7____, especially in hot, dry areas. People can avoid accidentally igniting a fire by properly monitoring all fire hazards, such as fireworks, cigarettes, portable stoves, and matches. If you go camping, make sure that your fire is _____8_____ completely, as the embers of campfires can reignite hours later if they are not completely doused with water. If you see a fire in the wild, no matter how small, report it to the fire department to quickly put it out. 

What should you do if you are in danger from a wildfire? If authorities tell you to ____9_____, go! Sometimes, though, it is better to stay put: this is why you should always listen to the experts’ emergency instructions. If you live in a high-risk area, make sure you have masks to keep smoke and _____10_____ out of the air you inhale. 

Wildfires are powerful and dangerous, but they can have positive effects, too. Over time, an area devastated by fire renews itself. Old, dead logs and branches are replaced by new, fresh growth. Ash in the soil can help many plants grow to be big and strong, and healthy ecosystems come back to life.