Natural Disaster: Wildfires
Interactive passage with audio narration, comprehension questions, and printable PDF.
What's included
Natural Disaster: Wildfires preview and details

About this printable Natural Disaster: Wildfires science reading passage, NGSS-aligned (Grades 4-5)
Sample passage and quiz from Natural Disaster: Wildfires
Reading passage and comprehension quiz preview
Natural Disaster: Wildfires

Wildfires are large fires that spread quickly over areas of forest, brush, or grassland. They can start from natural causes like lightning strikes, or from human activities like campfires or fireworks. Dry and windy conditions help wildfires spread fast and far.
These fires can be very dangerous, destroying homes and habitats for animals. They also produce a lot of smoke, which can make the air unhealthy to breathe. Firefighters work hard to control wildfires, often using water, fire retardants, and creating firebreaks to stop the flames from spreading.
While wildfires can be destructive, they also play a role in nature. Some forests need occasional fires to clear out dead plants and help new ones grow. However, climate change is making wildfires more frequent and intense in many parts of the world.
To prevent wildfires, it's important to be careful with fire in nature, follow local fire rules, and clear dry brush around homes in fire-prone areas. Being prepared and staying informed about fire risks can help keep communities safe.
Comprehension quiz (6 questions)
1. What can cause wildfires?
2. What conditions help wildfires spread quickly?
3. How do firefighters try to stop wildfires?
4. What positive role can wildfires play in nature?
5. How is climate change affecting wildfires?
6. What's one way to help prevent wildfires?
Common Core standards for Natural Disaster: Wildfires
Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers.
Determine the main idea of a text and explain how it is supported by key details; summarize the text.
Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words or phrases in a text relevant to a grade 4 topic or subject area.
Determine two or more main ideas of a text and explain how they are supported by key details; summarize the text.
Perfect for the way you teach
- Build comprehension skills
- Auto-graded quiz
- Differentiated reading
- Read together at home
- Improve fluency
- Quiet reading time
- Reading curriculum support
- Independent practice
- Track Lexile growth


