强风继续助长加州野火

Strong Winds Continue to Fuel California Wildfires

Firefighters continue to fight wildfires in southern California, including a new fire just north of San Diego.

In the past five days, the fires have destroyed at least 500 buildings and forced 190,000 people to leave their homes, California officials said.

More than 5,700 people, some in helicopters, are trying to slow the spread of six large wildfires and other smaller blazes. They are spraying and dropping water, as well as fire retardant, in the affected¹ areas.

The wildfires have been burning since Monday. They are causing destruction along the Pacific coast, from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara County, 170 kilometers to the north. The fires are powered by Santa Ana winds -- hot, dry air that blows from east to west.

The biggest blaze is the Thomas Fire, about 90 kilometers northwest of Los Angeles. It is nearly 52,000 hectares in size and has destroyed about 430 buildings. However, firefighters have made enough progress against the Los Angeles area fires to cancel most evacuation orders.

A new fire, named the Lilac Fire, forced California Governor Jerry Brown to declare a state of emergency for San Diego County, more than 200 kilometers south of Los Angeles.

The Lilac Fire started on Thursday and grew to 16 square kilometers in a few hours. It moved through the heavily populated Rancho Monserate Country Club community and the small city of Fallbrook, home to many avocado farms and horse ranches³.

The fire forced people to leave their homes as it destroyed homes and burned an area near a training center for thoroughbred horses.

Workers freed more than 450 horses to avoid being trapped, said Mac McBride of the Del Mar⁴ Thoroughbred Club. Some horses did not survive, and one trainer said at least 30 horses died.

The fire burned near Camp Pendleton, a large base for the United States Marine⁵ Corps⁶.

California state fire officials said the Santa Ana winds from the California desert and the extremely dry conditions are expected to continue until Sunday.

The Los Angeles Unified⁷ School District, the U.S.’s second largest with 640,000 students, closed more than 275 schools for a second day on Friday. The University of California in Santa Barbara also closed.

The fires crossed major roads and threatened small coastal⁸ communities between Ventura and Santa Barbara.

Fires are common in Southern California before the winter rains begin. This year is very bad because of unusually hot, dry and windy conditions.

Two weeks ago, wildfires in Northern California killed 44 people. Those fires destroyed 8,900 homes and other buildings.

California’s Department of Forestry⁹ and Fire Protection reported on Tuesday that more than 400,000 hectares of land have burned this year. That number does not include the fires burning now.

Words in This Story

spray - v. liquid that is forced out of a container in a stream of very small drops

retardant - adj. able to slow down the progress or development of something

blaze - n. an intense and dangerous fire

thoroughbred - n. a fast horse used mainly for racing¹⁰

ranch² – n. a large farm for raising horses or cattle

evacuation – n. the act of people being told to leave an area, usually for safety reasons

1 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

2 ranch   

n.大牧场，大农场

参考例句：

• He went to work on a ranch.他去一个大农场干活。
• The ranch is in the middle of a large plateau.该牧场位于一个辽阔高原的中部。

3 ranches   

大农场， （兼种果树，养鸡等的）大牧场( ranch的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They hauled feedlot manure from the ranches to fertilize their fields. 他们从牧场的饲养场拖走肥料去肥田。
• Many abandoned ranches are purchased or leased by other poultrymen. 许多被放弃的牧场会由其他家禽监主收买或租用。

4 mar   

vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟

参考例句：

• It was not the custom for elderly people to mar the picnics with their presence.大人们照例不参加这样的野餐以免扫兴。
• Such a marriage might mar your career.这样的婚姻说不定会毁了你的一生。

5 marine   

adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵

参考例句：

• Marine creatures are those which live in the sea. 海洋生物是生存在海里的生物。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

6 corps   

n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组

参考例句：

• The medical corps were cited for bravery in combat.医疗队由于在战场上的英勇表现而受嘉奖。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

7 unified   

(unify 的过去式和过去分词)； 统一的； 统一标准的； 一元化的

参考例句：

• The teacher unified the answer of her pupil with hers. 老师核对了学生的答案。
• The First Emperor of Qin unified China in 221 B.C. 秦始皇于公元前221年统一中国。

8 coastal   

adj.海岸的，沿海的，沿岸的

参考例句：

• The ocean waves are slowly eating away the coastal rocks.大海的波浪慢慢地侵蚀着岸边的岩石。
• This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。

9 forestry   

n.森林学；林业

参考例句：

• At present, the Chinese forestry is being at a significant transforming period. 当前, 我国的林业正处于一个重大的转折时期。
• Anhua is one of the key forestry counties in Hunan province. 安化县是湖南省重点林区县之一。

10 racing   

n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的

参考例句：

• I was watching the racing on television last night.昨晚我在电视上看赛马。
• The two racing drivers fenced for a chance to gain the lead.两个赛车手伺机竞相领先。