[Explanation] The Daxing'anling Mountains in Inner Mongolia at the end of May was during the forest fire prevention period. In this vast mountain forest, the fire watchers once again entered a state of "alert". They are the "watchers" of the forest.
Recently, the reporter saw a couple of fire watchers on the Yilehuli Mountain in the northernmost part of the Ali River in the Daxing'an Mountains, Inner Mongolia.
[Explanation] Every year from the spring forest fire prevention period to the early winter when the snow is covered, the task of Jin Yanlong and Zhou Guibo husband and wife is to climb the fire observation tower day after day and use the naked eye and telescope to observe the surrounding forests. Discover the different "fireworks" among them.
Her husband, Jin Yanlong, has been working as a fire watcher for 22 years, and his wife, Zhou Guibo, went to the tower for the first time in 2018. She still clearly remembers the scene at that time.
[Concurrent period] Zhou Guibo, a forest fire watcher in Alihe Forest Area, Daxinganling, Inner Mongolia
One of the most memorable things was my first time up the tower.
It was very windy that day, and my legs were trembling when I went up the tower. I have never climbed such a high tower before. After going down the tower, my legs hurt for several days.
Then there are too many (wild) animals here at night, and these beasts don't know what (which kind) they call every night, and I am so scared that I can't sleep.
[Explanation] Jin Yanlong told reporters that the watchtower is located in the deep mountains, and there are no forest farms and residents nearby. Except for the couple, the most infested here are all kinds of wild animals.
In recent years, there have also been sightings of black bears and wolves around the watchtower.
For this reason, Jin Yanlong installed a protective fence outside the hut where he lived.
Only then did Zhou Guibo feel at ease.
[Concurrent period] Zhou Guibo, a forest fire watcher in Alihe Forest Area, Daxinganling, Inner Mongolia
In June last year, Xiong Blind came to our tower, but he didn't get to our house, but he was really scared. He saw the (surveillance) video. The next day I asked my husband to put a few small (wooden poles) on the tower. Several windows are nailed up, so give yourself a (psychological) comfort. When the blind bear comes, you feel that he can't get in.
[Explanation] In spring and winter, the top of the tower is piercingly cold, and the couple wears cotton-padded clothes and trousers, and they will be blown to the heart after a while on the tower; in summer, mosquito bites in the mountains and forests become "common"; Even more dangerous are lightning strikes.
Jin Yanlong told reporters that the lookout tower attracts lightning strikes, and the lookout needs to determine the direction of the lightning strike. If the lightning strike is near the tower, they must get down from the tower to the house to avoid the lightning strike in the shortest time.
[Explanation] In life, the husband and wife take care of each other, and at work, Jin Yanlong is Zhou Guibo's teacher.
Zhou Guibo told reporters that in five years, she has grown into a qualified "forest guard", who can judge the burning material according to the color of the smoke, and can accurately and timely tell the location of the fire point.
Today's watchtower is connected to electricity and the Internet. The couple read books and grow vegetables in their spare time. They can also communicate with their families through mobile phones. This simple life makes the couple very satisfied.
Facing the visiting reporters, the couple were very happy. Jin Yanlong told reporters that they didn't expect that ordinary people like them would get attention.
For them, the day-to-day lookout is boring, but thinking that their job is to protect the precious forest resources, they feel that it is all worthwhile.
Talking about the future, 57-year-old Jin Yanlong said he would continue to stick to it, while Zhou Guibo smiled at his nervous husband in front of the camera.
[Concurrent] Jin Yanlong, a forest fire watcher in Alihe Forest Area, Daxinganling, Inner Mongolia
I have been working in the watchtower for more than 20 years. It is my responsibility to do a good job of watching and guarding this big forest. I am determined not to retire or leave this position.
[Explanation] In the 106,900-square-kilometer Daxing'an Mountains in Inner Mongolia, there are a total of 798 fire watchers. They greet the rising sun and bid farewell to the sunset in the forest every day. From early spring to winter, they watch this forest together.
Zhou Guibo told reporters that although life in the mountains is dull, it also has a responsibility on his shoulders. This is the struggle of the couple, and this is also a kind of happiness.
(Reported by Ma Zhiyuan, Zhang Wei, Luan Weijing, Daxinganling, Inner Mongolia)
Responsible editor: [Lu Yan]