The Control of Fire

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Figure 2.2 Forest Fire

or thousands of years forest fires (figure 2.2) have scorched the earth. They both devastated towns and villages, and parched acres of land. Fires, sparked by both natural causes and human accidents, still rage during the hot months in almost every region of the world. However, it was not until the last century that the practice of fire fighting came into widespread use in America. Now, land management organizations employ hundreds of young, strong firefighters to combat the flames. The evolution of fire suppression, however, has also had many negative ecological effects. Ecosystems worldwide suffer from both man-made fires, and man’s effort to suppress forest fires.

Protection against forest fires is often a matter of education. Many fires started by people to burn trash or leaves or dead grass get out of control and burn forests as well. Sometimes campfires or cigarettes cause fires. Arson is another common cause of fires in some areas.

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Figure 2.3 Firefighter

ost forests are watched during the spring and fall fire seasons to detect fires as early as possible. Fire damage can be held to a minimum by quick action. Fire roads are cut through forests to allow firefighters (figure 2.3) to quench blazes before they get hot enough to reach the tops of trees. Ground fires may damage hardwood trees, but they rarely do severe damage to mature pines. Crown fires, on the other hand, kill all trees.

Lightning is still a common cause of fires. If these fires are in remote areas, they can damage large parts of a forest before they are discovered and controlled. Firefighters sometimes have to be flown to the fire in helicopters. Sometimes firefighters called smoke jumpers parachute into battle against forest fires.

Once a stand has been damaged or killed by fire, usable wood is removed quickly to prevent the buildup of destructive insect populations and to prepare for the reforestation of the area. As destructive as fire can be, foresters have learned to set fires that imitate nature to benefit the forest. Fires set by lightning destroy climax forests and allow a new succession of tree species, starting with softwoods, to begin. Natural fires also serve to reduce competition in softwood forests. Forest managers sometimes use controlled fire to control unwanted hardwood growth in pine stands.

This leaves more moisture and nutrients for the pines. It also reduces the ground litter of leaves and branches that might fuel a hotter fire, and it exposes the soil, allowing grasses and brush to grow and feed wildlife.

2.2 Give Russian equivalents: gypsy moth, spruce budworm, southern pine beetle, and Douglas fir tussock moth chestnut blight, Dutch elm disease, elm bark beetle, shrivel, cross section, brown spots, black streaks, fungicide, weak stands, firefighters, to combat, the flames, man-made fires, damage.

2.3 Find the answers to the following questions in the text 1:

1. What tree diseases are mentioned in the text?

2. How can Dutch elm disease be controlled?

3. What do cause forest fires?

4. What is controlled fire in the forest?

2.4 Define the function of the infinitives and translate the sentences.

1. Finally the whole branch of the tree may die.

2. Fungicides can be used to kill the elm bark beetle.

3. To prevent this, trenches must be dug to stop contact between healthy and unhealthy roots.

4. Natural fires also serve to reduce competition in softwood forests.

2.5 Form nouns from the following verbs with the help of the appropriate suffix (- tion or - ment) and translate them:

to manage; to protect; to develop; to compete; to reforest; to populate; to educate; to organize

2.6 Translate these word combinations (use the text 1) and use them in sentences of your own:

насекомые вредители; фунгициды; причины пожаров; пожарные; лесонасаждение; разрушать леса.

2.7 Skim the text 2. Write down an annotation of the text.