AQA A-level Geography · 3.1.5

Fires in nature and hazard case studies

50 exam-style questions with answers for 3.1.5 Fires in nature and hazard case studies in AQA A-level Geography (spec 7037). Practise with flashcards, a topic quiz, a random quiz across the course, 5 crosswords, or read every question and answer below.

All 50 questions and answers

Question 1 · Spec 3.1.5.6 · Nature of wildfires
Explain what is meant by a wildfire. [2 marks]
Answer:
An uncontrolled fire that burns in vegetation such as forest, scrub or grassland (1); it can spread rapidly over large areas, depending on fuel, weather and terrain (1).
Question 2 · Spec 3.1.5.6 · Nature of wildfires
Distinguish between surface fires, crown fires and ground fires. [3 marks]
Answer:
Surface fires burn low vegetation and litter on the ground (1); crown fires spread through the tops of trees and are the most intense (1); ground fires burn organic matter such as peat below the surface, and can smoulder for months (1).
Question 3 · Spec 3.1.5.6 · Nature of wildfires
Name the three components needed for a fire to burn. [3 marks]
Answer:
Fuel (1); oxygen (1); heat or an ignition source (1).
Question 4 · Spec 3.1.5.6 · Conditions
Explain how vegetation type affects the risk of intense wildfires. [3 marks]
Answer:
Eucalyptus, pine and chaparral contain flammable oils and resins (1); grasses dry out quickly and burn fast (1); forests of mature trees give a large fuel load, and ladder fuels let fire climb into the canopy (1).
Question 5 · Spec 3.1.5.6 · Conditions
Explain how fuel characteristics affect fire behaviour. [3 marks]
Answer:
A large amount of dry fuel on the ground increases intensity (1); fuel with low moisture content ignites easily and burns fiercely (1); continuous fuel allows fire to spread, whereas gaps in fuel slow it (1).
Question 6 · Spec 3.1.5.6 · Conditions
Explain why areas with a Mediterranean climate have a high risk of wildfires. [3 marks]
Answer:
Hot, dry summers dry out vegetation (1); mild, wet winters promote growth, which provides fuel (1); the vegetation is adapted to fire and contains flammable oils, as in California, southern Europe and southern Australia (1).
Question 7 · Spec 3.1.5.6 · Conditions
Explain how recent weather affects the risk of wildfires. [3 marks]
Answer:
Drought and heatwaves dry out fuel (1); strong winds fan flames and carry burning embers ahead of the fire (1); low humidity and lightning from dry thunderstorms raise the chance of ignition and spread (1).
Question 8 · Spec 3.1.5.6 · Conditions
Explain how wind, slope and fuel affect the behaviour of a wildfire. [4 marks]
Answer:
Strong winds increase the rate of spread and the distance that embers are carried (1); fire spreads faster uphill because flames preheat the fuel above (1); dense, dry fuel gives intense fires (1); fires can create their own wind and weather systems, including fire whirls (1).
Question 9 · Spec 3.1.5.6 · Causes
Describe the natural causes of wildfires. [2 marks]
Answer:
Lightning strikes are the main natural cause (1); others include volcanic eruptions and spontaneous combustion of dry vegetation (1).
Question 10 · Spec 3.1.5.6 · Causes
Describe the human causes of wildfires. [3 marks]
Answer:
Any three from: discarded cigarettes and campfires (1); arson (1); sparks from machinery, vehicles or power lines (1); controlled burns that get out of control (1); land clearance for farming (1).
Question 11 · Spec 3.1.5.6 · Causes
Explain why most wildfires are caused by people. [2 marks]
Answer:
More people live and travel in or near fire-prone areas (1); human ignition sources are present all year, and they start fires in dry conditions (1).
Question 12 · Spec 3.1.5.6 · Distribution
Describe the global distribution of areas at high risk from wildfires. [3 marks]
Answer:
Mediterranean climate regions such as California, southern Europe, southern Australia and central Chile (1); boreal forests in Canada, Alaska and Siberia (1); tropical savanna and seasonally dry forest, such as parts of Africa and the Amazon fringe (1).
Question 13 · Spec 3.1.5.6 · Distribution
Explain how climate change is increasing the risk of wildfires. [3 marks]
Answer:
Higher temperatures and longer, drier summers dry out fuel (1); the fire season is getting longer in many regions (1); more frequent heatwaves and drought create conditions for more extreme fires (1).
Question 14 · Spec 3.1.5.6 · Distribution
Explain how fire can have ecological benefits. [3 marks]
Answer:
Some plants need fire to release seeds, such as lodgepole pine and eucalyptus (1); burning clears dead matter, returning nutrients to the soil (1); fire creates open spaces that allow new growth and increase biodiversity (1).
Question 15 · Spec 3.1.5.6 · Impacts
Distinguish between primary and secondary impacts of wildfires. [4 marks]
Answer:
Primary impacts are caused directly by flames, heat and smoke, such as deaths and destroyed buildings (1); and burned vegetation and wildlife (1); secondary impacts follow later, such as landslides and flooding on burned slopes (1); and loss of income, health problems from smoke and displacement (1).
Question 16 · Spec 3.1.5.6 · Impacts
Describe the environmental impacts of wildfires. [3 marks]
Answer:
Habitats and wildlife are destroyed (1); burned slopes lose vegetation, so soil erosion and landslides increase (1); large amounts of carbon dioxide and smoke are released, adding to climate change (1).
Question 17 · Spec 3.1.5.6 · Impacts
Describe the social impacts of wildfires. [3 marks]
Answer:
Deaths and injuries from burns and smoke inhalation (1); homes are destroyed and people are displaced (1); mental health problems, closed schools and disrupted services (1).
Question 18 · Spec 3.1.5.6 · Impacts
Describe the economic impacts of wildfires. [3 marks]
Answer:
Homes, businesses, crops and forests are destroyed (1); firefighting and recovery are very expensive (1); tourism and farming lose income, and insurance costs rise (1).
Question 19 · Spec 3.1.5.6 · Impacts
Describe the political impacts of wildfires. [2 marks]
Answer:
Governments and utilities are criticised for failing to prevent or manage fires (1); debate over land management, building rules and climate policies may follow, and money is diverted to recovery (1).
Question 20 · Spec 3.1.5.6 · Impacts
Explain why smoke from wildfires is a hazard far from the fire. [2 marks]
Answer:
Fine particles can be carried hundreds or thousands of kilometres by winds (1); they harm people with breathing problems and reduce visibility, so flights and roads are disrupted (1).
Question 21 · Spec 3.1.5.6 · Responses
Describe the short-term responses to a wildfire. [3 marks]
Answer:
Evacuation of people, and road closures (1); firefighters, aircraft and bulldozers contain the fire (1); emergency shelters, medical care and warnings are provided (1).
Question 22 · Spec 3.1.5.6 · Responses
Describe the long-term responses to a wildfire. [3 marks]
Answer:
Rebuild homes and infrastructure with fire-resistant materials (1); replant and restore burned land, and stabilise slopes (1); review fire management policies and planning rules (1).
Question 23 · Spec 3.1.5.6 · Responses
Explain how fire prediction and monitoring help manage wildfires. [3 marks]
Answer:
Fire danger ratings use temperature, humidity, wind and fuel dryness to forecast the risk (1); satellites and cameras detect new fires early (1); this allows warnings, restrictions and firefighting resources to be put in place early (1).
Question 24 · Spec 3.1.5.6 · Responses
Explain how preparedness reduces the impact of wildfires. [3 marks]
Answer:
Evacuation plans and clear routes mean people can leave in time (1); community education explains how to prepare homes and respond (1); warning systems such as sirens and mobile alerts reach residents (1).
Question 25 · Spec 3.1.5.6 · Responses
Explain how mitigation reduces the impact of wildfires. [3 marks]
Answer:
Firebreaks and fuel management, including controlled burning, reduce the fuel for fires (1); building with fire-resistant materials, and creating defensible space around homes (1); thinning forests and clearing dead material (1).
Question 26 · Spec 3.1.5.6 · Responses
Explain how prevention reduces the number of human-caused wildfires. [3 marks]
Answer:
Bans on campfires, barbecues and burning during dry spells (1); maintenance of power lines and equipment (1); penalties for arson and education campaigns (1).
Question 27 · Spec 3.1.5.6 · Responses
Explain how people adapt to the risk of wildfires. [2 marks]
Answer:
Homes are built with non-flammable materials and ember-proof vents (1); gardens are managed to leave a defensible space, and residents have fire-ready kits (1).
Question 28 · Spec 3.1.5.6 · Responses
Explain why controlled burning is controversial. [2 marks]
Answer:
It reduces fuel and risk, and mimics natural fire (1); it can escape control, produces smoke and may harm wildlife and neighbours' property (1).
Question 29 · Spec 3.1.5.6 · Recent events
Camp Fire, California, 2018: describe the nature of the fire and its impacts. [4 marks]
Answer:
Started on 8 November 2018 when a power line failed and sparked dry vegetation in strong winds (1); the town of Paradise was almost destroyed (1); 85 people died, and about 18,800 buildings were destroyed (1); smoke polluted air across northern California (1).
Question 30 · Spec 3.1.5.6 · Recent events
Camp Fire, California, 2018: explain why the loss of life was so high. [3 marks]
Answer:
Fire spread extremely quickly in strong winds, with little time for warnings (1); roads out of Paradise became gridlocked as residents tried to evacuate (1); many residents were elderly or disabled and unable to leave without help (1).
Question 31 · Spec 3.1.5.6 · Recent events
Camp Fire, California, 2018: describe the responses. [3 marks]
Answer:
Firefighters from across the state fought the fire for over two weeks (1); the electricity company was held responsible, filed for bankruptcy and paid compensation (1); after the fire, the state introduced new rules on power lines, evacuation plans and rebuilding (1).
Question 32 · Spec 3.1.5.6 · Recent events
Black Summer, Australia, 2019–20: describe the conditions that led to the fires. [3 marks]
Answer:
Severe drought preceded the fires, so fuel was extremely dry (1); record-breaking temperatures in 2019 made it Australia's hottest year (1); strong winds and dry lightning started and spread fires over months (1).
Question 33 · Spec 3.1.5.6 · Recent events
Black Summer, Australia, 2019–20: describe the impacts. [4 marks]
Answer:
Over 18 million hectares were burned (1); 33 people died directly in the fires and many more from smoke (1); about 3,000 homes were destroyed (1); an estimated 3 billion animals were killed or displaced, and smoke blanketed cities including Sydney and Canberra (1).
Question 34 · Spec 3.1.5.6 · Recent events
Black Summer, Australia, 2019–20: describe the responses. [3 marks]
Answer:
Thousands of firefighters, many of them volunteers, fought the fires, with the army called in (1); tens of thousands of people were evacuated from coastal towns (1); a Royal Commission reviewed national disaster arrangements and recommended better co-ordination and planning (1).
Question 35 · Spec 3.1.5.6 · Recent events
Lahaina, Hawaii, 2023: describe the conditions and impacts. [4 marks]
Answer:
Dry non-native grasses covered the land after drought (1); strong winds from a hurricane passing to the south spread a fast wildfire (1); the town of Lahaina was destroyed, with about 2,200 buildings lost (1); 102 people died, making it the deadliest US wildfire in over a century (1).
Question 36 · Spec 3.1.5.6 · Recent events
Lahaina, Hawaii, 2023: explain why so many people died. [3 marks]
Answer:
The fire moved extremely quickly in high winds, leaving very little time to escape (1); power and communications were cut, so many people did not get warnings (1); roads were blocked, trapping people in the town (1).
Question 37 · Spec 3.1.5.6 · Recent events
Los Angeles, California, 2025: describe the nature of the fires and their impacts. [3 marks]
Answer:
The Palisades and Eaton fires started in January 2025 and were driven by strong Santa Ana winds after a dry period (1); about 30 people died and around 16,000 buildings were destroyed (1); tens of thousands of residents were evacuated, and the cost of damage was huge (1).
Question 38 · Spec 3.1.5.6 · Recent events
Compare the Camp Fire in 2018 and Black Summer in 2019–20. [4 marks]
Answer:
The Camp Fire was a single fast fire that destroyed a town and killed 85 people (1); Black Summer was months of fires across several states, burning much more land (1); both followed drought and heat and involved strong winds (1); Black Summer had a larger ecological impact, but the Camp Fire caused more deaths from a single fire (1).
Question 39 · Spec 3.1.5.7 · Multi-hazard environment
Explain why the Philippines is described as a multi-hazard environment. [4 marks]
Answer:
It lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire, with active volcanoes such as Mayon and Taal (1); subduction zones and faults cause frequent earthquakes and tsunamis (1); about 20 tropical cyclones enter its waters each year, bringing storm surges and floods (1); landslides, flooding and drought also affect it (1).
Question 40 · Spec 3.1.5.7 · Multi-hazard environment
Describe the social, economic and environmental risks in the Philippines. [4 marks]
Answer:
Social: millions live in coastal and informal settlements at risk, and the poor are most vulnerable (1); economic: damage to agriculture, housing and infrastructure sets back development, and typhoons cost billions of pesos (1); environmental: mangroves, reefs and forests are damaged (1); hazards can strike one after another, such as the Bohol earthquake and Typhoon Haiyan in 2013 (1).
Question 41 · Spec 3.1.5.7 · Multi-hazard environment
Explain how people in the Philippines show resilience and adaptation. [3 marks]
Answer:
Communities learn from experience and rebuild quickly (1); homes are built on stilts or with light, flexible materials in flood-prone areas (1); strong family and community networks give mutual support (1).
Question 42 · Spec 3.1.5.7 · Multi-hazard environment
Describe how hazards are managed in the Philippines. [3 marks]
Answer:
The Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010 gave local authorities responsibility for planning (1); Project NOAH and PHIVOLCS provide hazard mapping, monitoring and warnings (1); communities run drills, evacuation centres are set up, and volcano alert levels determine evacuation (1).
Question 43 · Spec 3.1.5.7 · Multi-hazard environment
Explain why people continue to live in hazardous areas of the Philippines. [3 marks]
Answer:
Volcanic soils and coastal waters are productive for farming and fishing (1); poverty and a lack of affordable land leave people with no alternative (1); jobs and services are concentrated in cities and coastal areas, and family ties are strong (1).
Question 44 · Spec 3.1.5.7 · Local case study
Montserrat: describe the nature of the volcanic hazard. [3 marks]
Answer:
The Soufrière Hills volcano began erupting in July 1995 after centuries of dormancy (1); a growing lava dome repeatedly collapsed to produce pyroclastic flows and lahars (1); the capital, Plymouth, was buried, and 19 people died in June 1997 (1).
Question 45 · Spec 3.1.5.7 · Local case study
Montserrat: describe the social impacts on the community. [3 marks]
Answer:
About two-thirds of the population left the island, with many moving to the UK (1); people in the exclusion zone lost homes, farms and their capital town (1); families were separated and lived in temporary shelters in the north (1).
Question 46 · Spec 3.1.5.7 · Local case study
Montserrat: explain how the economy has changed because of the hazard. [3 marks]
Answer:
The loss of Plymouth removed the port, shops and offices (1); farming and tourism in the south ended, and the island depends on aid and public sector jobs (1); a new airport and new buildings at Little Bay have been built to restore the economy, with tourism around the volcano (1).
Question 47 · Spec 3.1.5.7 · Local case study
Montserrat: explain how political character reflects the hazard and its management. [3 marks]
Answer:
As a British Overseas Territory, Montserrat depends on the UK for funding and decisions (1); the UK paid for evacuation, housing and development, but residents criticised delays (1); the south is an exclusion zone and the government has had to plan for rebuilding in the north (1).
Question 48 · Spec 3.1.5.7 · Local case study
Montserrat: describe how the volcano is monitored and managed. [3 marks]
Answer:
The Montserrat Volcano Observatory monitors seismic activity, ground deformation and gas (1); a hazard level system sets out where people can go, with a daily exclusion zone (1); evacuation plans and public information help residents to be ready (1).
Question 49 · Spec 3.1.5.7 · Local case study
Montserrat: evaluate the success of the community's response. [3 marks]
Answer:
The monitoring has prevented large numbers of deaths since 1997 (1); a new infrastructure has been rebuilt in the safe north (1); however, the population remains much smaller than before, and the economy is still heavily dependent on aid (1).
Question 50 · Spec 3.1.5.6 · Responses
Explain why wildfires are harder to manage at the wildland–urban interface. [3 marks]
Answer:
Homes are built close to flammable vegetation, so fires reach buildings easily (1); firefighters must protect lives and property instead of simply containing the fire (1); narrow roads make evacuation and access for fire engines difficult (1).

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