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Nature163 words1 min read

Wildfire Burns 20 Hectares in France's Loire Region

A wildfire has burned more than 20 hectares of land in the Loire region of France. The fire started near the town of Sail-sous-Couzan.

When the fire began, it had already burned around 10 hectares of forest. Firefighters described it as a virulent fire, meaning it was very fierce and fast-moving.

The fire continued to spread and eventually destroyed more than 20 hectares of vegetation, including trees and plants in the area.

Firefighters worked to stop the fire from growing further. Officials have now said the fire is "fixed," a term used to describe a fire that is under control and no longer spreading.

Even though the fire is fixed, firefighting teams often remain at the scene for some time. This helps them prevent the fire from starting again in areas that are still hot.

No injuries have been reported so far. Wildfires like this one are becoming more common in parts of France, especially during dry and hot periods.

Vocabulary6 words

hectare
a unit used to measure a large area of land
virulent
very strong and fast, often used for fires or diseases
vegetation
all the plants and trees in one place
fixed
a word meaning a fire has stopped spreading
wildfire
a large, fast fire that burns outdoors
region
a large area within a country

Quiz

1. What happened near Sail-sous-Couzan?
2. How was the fire described when it started?
3. What does it mean that the fire is now "fixed"?

Fill-in-the-blank listening

Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.

A wildfire has burned more than 20 hectares of land in the _____ region of France. The fire started near the town of Sail-sous-Couzan.

When the fire began, it had already burned around 10 hectares of forest. Firefighters described it as a _____ fire, meaning it was very fierce and fast-moving.

The fire continued to spread and eventually destroyed more than 20 hectares of _____, including trees and plants in the area.

Firefighters worked to stop the fire from growing further. Officials have now said the fire is "_____," a term used to describe a fire that is under control.

Even though the fire is fixed, firefighting teams often remain at the _____ for some time. This helps them prevent the fire from starting again.

No _____ have been reported so far. Wildfires like this one are becoming more common in parts of France.

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