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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年以来，这里就一直遭受着人类的影响。这里方圆300万英亩，水下面积达近50万英亩。这里就是尚未遭到人类践踏的苏必利尔国家森林。但现在，这份国家宝藏是否能延续要取决于亲眼看到它置身火海的人手中了。1999年，这里近50万英亩的树木遭到大型风暴的袭击，当时，林务局就知道森林大火在劫难逃。人们称该地区是700多平方英里的“万事俱备”，只欠一个火苗的东风。
"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，我们也很奇怪为什么一直都没发生大火，毕竟这里也曾极度干燥、温暖、大风不断，也曾出现过闪电。但，嗯……目前为止，闪电尚未引起木材燃烧。”今天只是想让大家知道我们的目标是让磁性岩石燃烧起来。林务局会亲自点火。“今天的天气预报很适合开始行动。”但要确定条件十分合适才会动手。“很有持续性，主要在西南方，所以14:50离开就可以。”而时速达15英里/小时的风如果从不适合的方向吹来，就会造成毁灭性的后果。如果出了什么差错，如果大火无法得到控制，老板蒂姆·诺曼将难逃其咎。“好了，蒂姆，我们准备好点火了。”火源会从上方抛下。消失在山脊上方的直升机将会在森林地面上抛下燃胶。
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.
