redo Jump to...
print Print...
NOTE: Scroll down and read the questions before watching the videos.
Jesse Watters on the LA wildfires, January 8, 2025:
Jesse Watters on the LA wildfires, January 9, 2025:
Questions
Answer the questions from the Jan. 8 video clip:
1. a) How long ago did California vote to spend billions to build reservoirs to store water?
b) What is the problem with the reservoirs?
2. In his first term in office, President Trump signed an order to funnel more water from northern California to southern California. Why did the governor block the president’s order?
3. a) How long did it take Gov. Newsom to send in the National Guard to help?
b) Do you think he should have done it immediately? Explain your answer.
c) If you were in the fire ravaged area, would your answer to b) be different? Explain your answer.
4. Why did people in Pacific Palisades have to abandon their cars in the middle of the road and run away from the fires?
5. Controlled burns are critical to forest management. (See “Background” below). What action did President Biden take regarding controlled burns in California?
6. Where was Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass when the fires broke out?
7. Jesse Watters asserts: “DEI [Diversity, Equity, Inclusion] is deadly. The state spent billions on equity programs and can’t even give basic services.” Do you agree with his assertion relating to the governor, mayor and fire department? Explain your answer.
and from the Jan. 9 video (the 2nd video):
8. Some fire hydrants ran out of water, preventing firefighters from putting out some of the fires. What actions had Gov. Gavin Newsom taken previously that presumably reduced the amount of water available to fight the fires?
9. a) Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is being denounced for a lack of preparation and rapid response when the fires began. Why have these criticisms been made?
b) Do you think the criticisms of the mayor are fair? Explain your answer.
Background
Controlled burns, also called prescribed fires, are necessary in forest management because they mimic natural fire cycles, reducing the amount of flammable vegetation buildup, thus lowering the risk of large, destructive wildfires while also promoting healthy forest ecosystems by encouraging new plant growth and maintaining biodiversity for wildlife habitats.
By removing excess fuel (dead wood, brush) from the forest floor, controlled burns lessen the severity of future wildfires if they occur.
Among other benefits, by reducing competition from understory vegetation, controlled burns can encourage the growth of larger, healthier trees. (Info from AI results from a Google search.)
See photo example and read about controlled burns at AmericanForests.org.
Daily “Answers” emails are provided for Daily News Articles, Tuesday’s World Events and Friday’s News Quiz.
