California Firefighters Ready for Severe Fire Season

Record high temperatures in May led to serious wildfires near the city of San Diego. The wildfires appeared months before California’s fire season usually begins. This followed nearly three years of little rainfall, and the driest year on record last year. It left trees and other plant life extremely dry.

Richard Cordova works for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, known as CAL FIRE.

“When we have higher temperatures, lower humidity, and you throw winds in there, it’s just a recipe for extreme fire danger. And when we see those, all those three elements come together, CAL FIRE reacts and starts moving equipment around.”

In the town of Hemet, California, a CAL FIRE air tactical unit trains to stay prepared. The training takes place at an airbase for firefighting crews.

Helicopters take the crews to wildfires, and tankers drop flame retardant chemicals from the air. The chemicals help to suppress the production of fire.

Mike Venable is a pilot who flies an air tanker for CAL FIRE. He has put out minor fires on nearby grasslands.

“Everything from that to the challenging 12,000 to 14,000 foot (3,500 to 4,000 meter) peaks, maybe up in the high Sierras or, you know, in the forests that surround our base here, so it’s a very big variety of flying. Some can be very dangerous, some not so dangerous.”

Pilots and firefighters keep their equipment ready. Daily meetings about weather conditions keep them informed about areas at risk of fire. Careful measurement of fuel load and the weather helps with flight planning.

Battalion Chief Travis Alexander says aircraft are deployed throughout the state and can reach a fire in minutes. He says the planes and helicopters are there to back up firefighting crews on the ground.

“Because the aircraft in this agency is just one of many tools. We have the hand crews, the (bull) dozers, engine companies, a variety of other assets. The air program comes in as a support function.”

At a nearby fire station, crews stay ready to fight fires in populated and rural areas.

Pilot Max Venable says air and ground crews work to keep the fires away from homes and other buildings.

“If you’re able to help somebody on the ground, save a house, keep a firefighter out of a hazardous situation, that’s rewarding.”

It is a continuing effort to stay ahead of the fires. State officials say they have added 300 new firefighters. Thousands of others already work as firefighters in California. Their job this year is likely to be a hard one.

I’m Anna Matteo.

词汇解析

flame

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

n.火焰;热情;燃烧;情人

v.燃烧;爆发;面红

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

The candle flame flickered and went out.

烛火摇曳着，随即熄灭了。

用作动词 (v.)

The evening sky flamed with red and orange.

傍晚天空的颜色是一片火红和橘黄相间。

minor

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

adj.轻微的;较小的;次要的

n.未成年人;辅修科目;[音]小调

v.辅修

参考例句

用作形容词 (adj.)

You should be thankful that you have escaped with only minor injuries.

你应该感到庆幸,你只是受了点轻伤,但是却脱险了。

用作名词 (n.)

It is illegal to sell cigarettes to minors.

向未成年人出售香烟是违法的。

用作动词 (v.)

Many university students will minor in some practical courses.

许多大学生都会副修一些实用性的课程。

surround

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

vt.包围;环绕

n.环绕物

参考例句

用作及物动词 (vt.)

The house was surrounded by high walls.

房子的四周有高墙。

用作名词 (n.)

This old fireplace has a very attractive surround.

这个老壁炉有个非常引人注目的围绕物。

engine

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

n.发动机;引擎;机车;火车头

vt.给 ... 装引擎

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

What's the cubic capacity of this engine?

这台发动机的立体容积是多少?