Dear Educator,

Wildfires in the United States cost billions of dollars each year destroying homes, property, and critical infrastructure. They disrupt commerce and result in the need for aid and reinvestment so local economies can recover. Even though the number of lives lost each year has declined, the cost of natural disasters continues to rise. According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), each decade the cost of property damage doubles or triples. A major goal of the USGS is to reduce the vulnerability of the people and areas most at risk to natural hazards.

WeatherBug Meteorologist Rachel Peterson integrates the history of the Great Chicago Fire (1871) to teach us about wildfires in this month's Real World Video.The video lesson explains the key ingredients needed for this disaster to start and what you can do to help prevent wild fires.

	Rachel's Real-World Instruction (RWI) Video - The Great Chicago Fire The Great Chicago was one of the largest disasters of the 19th century. Learn how and why it started. View in Windows Media
	RWI Lesson - Energy Safety We use energy everyday— many kinds of fire related energy can be dangerous. It is important to know the dangers and how to be safe. Here are some ways to stay safe. Read more...

Thanks for reading this month's issue of Classroom Connections, and we hope you and your students have a safe and fun Halloween!

Regards,

The WeatherBug Schools Team
Phone: 800-544-4429, extension 2
Email: edsales@aws.com
Web: weatherbugschools.com