NewsTracker Answers for week of Nov. 12, 2018

Q: More than a quarter million people were evacuated from the paths of fast moving wildfires in northern and southern California. Scores of people were killed and hundreds were missing in the fires. Where is California?

Circle the area on this map


Q: California’s governor asked for a “major disaster declaration” from President Donald Trump who blamed the fires on . . .

A. Arsonists

B. Climate change

C. Drought

D. Forest management


D. “There is no reason for these massive, deadly and costly forest fires in California except that forest management is so poor,” said Trump, who also threatened to withhold federal funds from the state. California officials responded that most of the fires are on federal land managed by the U.S. Forest Service. Scientists tied the wildfires to climate change, drought and home building near wild lands.


Q: The deadliest wildfire in California's history destroyed Paradise, a city of about 26,000 people north of the state capital. What is the capital of California?

A. Sacramento

B. San Francisco

C. Santa Ana

D. Santa Fe


A. Sacramento is California’s capital and fifth-largest metropolitan area. After gold was discovered at nearby Sutter’s Mill in 1848, Sacramento became the economic center of the California Gold Rush. It became California’s first incorporated city in 1850. Santa Ana is name of a California city and the name of the eastern winds infamous for fanning wildfires in southern California.


Q: A wildfire in southern California destroyed millionaires’ mansions in what seaside community?

A. Beverly Hills

B. Hollywood

C. Malibu

D. Pasadena


C. Malibu is a beach community about 30 miles west of Downtown Los Angeles, and it is known as the home of film stars and wealthy entertainment executives. They were among the 250,000 people evacuated in southern California. Two of the people found dead in the fires were in a car on a Malibu driveway.


Q: Autumn is the driest and worst season for wildfires in California. What is worrying officials about the coming winter?

A. Blizzards

B. Mudslides

C. Too little rain

D. Too much snow


B. Local officials are looking toward the next potential hazard as a result of the wildfires, as winter rains loom ahead — the shadow disaster of mudslides. “The fire ripped right through the root stock,” said a state senator representing Malibu. “There’s nothing left to hold those hillsides together.”