第5單元 化為灰燼
The summer of 2002 saw many forest fires. It had been a very dry year and forest fires were everywhere. One particular fire could not becontrolled and it destroyed a small housingcommunity called Scenic Hill. Luckily, the community had received a warning from the fire fighters; and the residents were able to escape but their homes and belongings turned to ashes.
二零零二年夏天發(fā)生許多森林大火,那一年天氣很干燥,到處都是森林大火,其中有一場火無法控制,燒毀了名為“觀景山”的小型住宅社區(qū),幸好社區(qū)接獲消防員的警告,居民得以逃離,可是他們的家和財產(chǎn)全都化為灰燼。
Thirty-four homes out of fifty-eight burnt down. Many people lost everything and didn’t have any house insurance. The media covered the tragedy and donation funds were set up so people could give money to help out the homeless families.
五十八棟房屋中有三十四棟完全燒毀,許多人失去了一切,又沒有房屋保險。媒體報道這則劇,成立捐款基金,讓其他人可以捐錢幫助這些無家可歸的人。
Local hotels gave free rooms and provided meals. Neighboring communities went through their belongings and packed up things like clothing, canned food, blankets, shoes and toys todonate to the families in need.
地方旅館提供空房間和食物,鄰近的社區(qū)檢查手邊的物資,打包衣服、罐頭食品、毛毯、鞋子和玩具,捐贈給需要的人家。
The people of Scenic Hill may have lost their homes, but they did not lose their faith inhumanity. With the help and generosity of others, they slowly began to build up theircommunity again.
“觀景山”的人們失去了他們的家,但卻沒失去對人性的信心,在其他人的協(xié)助與慷慨解囊之下,他們慢慢開始重建社區(qū)。