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It's been protected from human impact since 1909. With three million acres, nearly a half million under water, Superior National Forest is largely unspoiled. But now the survival of this national treasure rest with those who would see some of it burned. When a massive windstorm flattened nearly a half million acres of trees in July of 1999, the Forest Service knew a major wildfire was inevitable. They refer to this area simply as the blowdown, over 700 square miles of kindling just waiting for a spark.
自1909年以來，這里就一直遭受著人類的影響。這里方圓300萬英畝，水下面積達近50萬英畝。這里就是尚未遭到人類踐踏的蘇必利爾國家森林。但現(xiàn)在，這份國家寶藏是否能延續(xù)要取決于親眼看到它置身火海的人手中了。1999年，這里近50萬英畝的樹木遭到大型風(fēng)暴的襲擊，當(dāng)時，林務(wù)局就知道森林大火在劫難逃。人們稱該地區(qū)是700多平方英里的“萬事俱備”，只欠一個火苗的東風(fēng)。
"Yeah, we are kind of wondering why that hasn't happened, um, when it's twice as dry, twice as warm and windy and there is lightning out there. Er, so far we just haven't had lightning in a good patch of timber to burn." On this day," just to let you know the Magnetic Rock burn is a goal."The Forest Service will strike the match. "The weather forecast for today is favorable". But not before checking that conditions are just right. "Pretty consistent, mainly southwest to leave at 14:50." Gusts of wind more than 15 miles per hour in the wrong direction could be disastrous. And if things go wrong, if the fire gets out of control, it would be burn boss Tim Norman who's responsible. "Yeah, Tim, we're ready to launch the torch of fuel". It will come from above. The helicopter disappearing over this ridge will drop a flaming gel on the forest floor.
“是的，我們也很奇怪為什么一直都沒發(fā)生大火，畢竟這里也曾極度干燥、溫暖、大風(fēng)不斷，也曾出現(xiàn)過閃電。但，嗯……目前為止，閃電尚未引起木材燃燒。”今天只是想讓大家知道我們的目標(biāo)是讓磁性巖石燃燒起來。林務(wù)局會親自點火。“今天的天氣預(yù)報很適合開始行動。”但要確定條件十分合適才會動手。“很有持續(xù)性，主要在西南方，所以14:50離開就可以。”而時速達15英里/小時的風(fēng)如果從不適合的方向吹來，就會造成毀滅性的后果。如果出了什么差錯，如果大火無法得到控制，老板蒂姆·諾曼將難逃其咎。“好了，蒂姆，我們準(zhǔn)備好點火了。”火源會從上方拋下。消失在山脊上方的直升機將會在森林地面上拋下燃膠。
The natural fuel there does the rest. For hours, wave after wave of air assaults rein fire from above. This is the time when all that planning to keep homeowners safe is put to the test. "Before the burn, during the burn and after the burn, we're trying to look at it as many angles as we can, we're trying outguess what could possibly happen and conduct it safely." In the end, a plan with promise gave way to some disappointment. No safety problems, but the Forest Service had hoped to burn 1300 acres, shifting winds and problems with the flaming gel limited the burn to just 200.
But that is still a significant amount of forest to burn. "How long will this area take to green up?" "Oh, it'll be green by next spring". This area now creates a much needed buffer between the blowdown and hundreds of homes and businesses on the edge of the wilderness. Burning the forest to keep a future wildfire in check. It's a huge job that's only just begun.
