Why so many fires?

California is burning! Wildfires have spread across the US State since Oct 23 and smoke has filled its skies.

Take the Kincade Fire in northern California for example. It forced ( 迫 使 ) 200,000 people to e【小题1】its path within one   week. The state’s largest power (电力) company cut power to about 206,000 homes in order to s【小题2】 more fires from breaking out, CBS News reported.

California has seen many wildfires in recent years. Nine of the 10 biggest fires have happened since 2000, i【小题3】five since 2010, according to The New York Times.

Why is this? California has the perfect wildfire   c【小题4】, Park Williams,   a   US climate expert (气候专家), told The New York Times. It has dry air and high temperatures from spring through late fall. At the same time, seasonal winds blow across the state every year, causing the wildfires to spread q【小题5】and last for weeks.

Global warming has also made the fires worse in recent years. It has dried out the state’s trees and o【小题6】 plant life, causing them to burn more easily.

H 【小题7】have played a role as well. Burning campfires, garbage debris ( 碎 片 ),and cigarette butts (烟头) can easily cause wildfires. For example, one fire started last year when a car got a flat tire (漏气的轮胎). The car’s body met the road and sent out sparks (火花 ), starting a f【小题8】.

Lightning strikes (雷击) and volcanic eruptions (火山爆发) can also cause wildfires. However, people have caused 90 percent of California’s wildfires, according to the US National Park Service.

More about wildfires

Wildfires often happen in wooded areas in the US, Canada and Australia. They are also k 【小题9】 as forest fires or grass fires in Australia.

Wildfires can burn at over 900℃ and reach heights of more than 50 meters. They can move at speeds of up to 23 kilometers an hour, burning e【小题10】 – trees, brush, homes, even people – in their path.

There was a serious rain in Henan in July, 2021. The rain caused floods in many areas. A lot of people suffered (受苦) by the flood. Then how can we protect 【小题1】 when there is a flood? The following tips may help you.

When you are at home, keep windows and doors closed and turn 【小题2】 the gas switches (开关). Get some food and swimming circles around you. 【小题3】 the rain water enters the room, immediately cut off the power supply to prevent the rain water from electrifying (电击) and wounding people.

If you are outside, do not stay under trees or large billboards (广告牌) close to power supply lines (电源线). The area above the second floor is 【小题4】 safer. And avoid standing on the bridges, especially on rivers. Floods in rivers may wash away bridges. In thunderstorm (雷雨) weather, it is better not to answer and dial mobile phones outdoors. The mobile phones can also cause thunder and hurt people. And you should leave the public transport facilities (设施) as soon as possible. Buses, subways, taxis and even high-speed railways may be stopped. Subways stopped underground and buses in low-lying areas are very 【小题5】.

When you drive 【小题6】 rainy days, reduce (减少) the speed gradually (逐渐地) from 【小题7】 to low. When the streets are full of rain water, slow down your car and drive more 【小题8】. If the vehicle stalls (熄火) in driving, get off the vehicle and wait for rescue. Never stay in the car all the time.