WEATHER AND EARTHLY PHENOMENON THESAURUS

FOREST FIRE



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HELPFUL TIP:

Don’t be afraid to pair weather conditions with your setting choice to contrast or reinforce a character’s emotions. Hopelessness might be mirrored in the relentless drizzle of rain and the resulting heavy drag of one’s clothes; alternatively, this feeling can stand out in stark contrast to sunlight dancing over fresh snow. Can weather also provide symbolism, thereby enriching the reader’s experience? Think about your goal for the scene and the mood you are trying to create, and then layer your description with meaningful choices.
SIGHTS:
Thick, sooty columns of smoke rising from the trees and blotting out the sky
Orange flames that lick the undergrowth and consume tall trees
Animals and birds fleeing the area
Helicopters flying overhead and dropping water or chemicals
Embers and sparks blown on the wind
Floating ash that coats emergency trucks, roofs, and trees like gray snow
Fields of wild grass alight with flames
Air too thick to see through
Fire glowing through billowing smoke
Fire crews and equipment spraying the fire with water and creating firebreaks
Ash drifting in the air
A ragged line of flame chewing through the undergrowth
Branches falling in an explosion of sparks
Trees collapsing into one another
Roads clogged with vehicles as people try to evacuate 
The flashing lights of emergency vehicles (police cars, ambulances, fire trucks, etc.)
News vehicles and reporters standing at a distance

SMELLS:
Soot and creosote
Wet ash and smoke
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TASTES:
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TEXTURES AND SENSATIONS:
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SOUNDS:
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REINFORCING A MOOD:
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SYMBOLISM:
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COMMON CLICHÉS:
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WEATHER NOTES:
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SCENARIOS FOR ADDING CONFLICT OR TENSION:
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