More wild fires raging across UK

Firefighters across the UK are tackling MORE big countryside fires brought on by the hot weather.

Blazes are burning in Berkshire, Yorkshire, Lancashire, the Highlands of Scotland and County Down, Tyrone and Armagh in Northern Ireland.

It's been the hottest April on record and there's only been half the normal amount of rain so it's easy for fires to start and spread.

Prime Minister David Cameron has praised the work of the firefighters.

Police are warning they will arrest anyone suspected of deliberately starting a fire after some teenagers were seen starting fresh fires at Swinley Forest near Crowthorne, Berkshire.

Experts in Northern Ireland say that many of the fires have been started on purpose.

There are about 60 firefighters at a massive moor fire near Mytholmroyd in West Yorkshire and in North Yorkshire a fire is threatening an industrial estate on the outskirts of Thirsk.

Nine crews are at a fire near Belmont, near Bolton in Lancashire, and two engines are at another moor fire near Ormskirk. A Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: "We are hoping it rains, as the land is so dry."

A large area of heather and gorse was on fire on the Balmoral Estate, the Royal Family's home in Scotland.

Fires in the wild can be caused by sunlight shining through bottles or glass and causing a spark or by cigarettes that aren't put out properly.

Match the words below to their definitions

blaze / estate / gorse / moor / on purpose / outskirts / suspected / threatening

large and intense fire
when it is thought something is true or probable
intentionally or deliberately
likely to cause harm or damage
group of houses or factories built in a planned way
areas at the edge of a town or city
open area of hills covered with rough grass
type of bush with thorns and small yellow flowers

TRUE OR FALSE?

1. The wild fires are limited to England.
2. No buildings are at risk from the fires.
3. Balmoral Estate in located in Lancashire.
4. The fires near Crowthorne may have been started by teenagers.
5. This April has been the hottest since people started keeping records.
6. A moor fire is burning near Thirsk.
7. Wildfires can be started by sunlight shining on grass.
8. The police have already arrested people for starting the fires.

What is the missing word?

1. There are about 60 firefighters at a______________moor fire near Mytholmroyd.
2. Some______________were seen starting fresh fires.
3. A large area of_______________and gorse was on fire.
4. David Cameron has________________the work of the firefighters.



KEY
Vocabulary

blaze large and intense fire
suspected when it is thought something is true or probable
on purpose intentionally or deliberately
threatening likely to cause harm or damage
estate group of houses or factories built in a planned way
outskirts areas at the edge of a town or city
moor open area of hills covered with rough grass
gorse type of bush with thorns and small yellow flowers

TRUE or FALSE?

1. False
2. False
3. False
4. True
5. True
6. False
7. False
8. False

What is the missing word?

1. massive
2. teenagers
3. heather
4. praised