Question

Investigators arrested Rick Brown, who may have caused a recent forest fire. Brown was seen dragging a piece of steel behind a vehicle, which sent sparks into the brush. While his actions may have started the fire, it was the weather conditions that caused the fire to spread. What was the cause of the fire?

1) Rick Brown's actions
2) The weather conditions
3) Both Rick Brown's actions and the weather conditions
4) Cannot be determined

Answer 1

Rick Brown's actions and the weather conditions were the cause of the fire.

Step-by-step explanation:

The cause of the fire was both Rick Brown's actions and the weather conditions. While Brown's actions of dragging a piece of steel behind a vehicle and sending sparks into the brush may have started the fire it was the weather conditions that caused the fire to spread. The severity of a forest fire is influenced by the availability of plant life to burn and the dryness of the fuel. Therefore both factors contributed to the cause and spread of the fire.