Answer:
B. There were not enough firefighters to do all the necessary tasks.
Explanation:
We can tell from the first sentence that there was not enough help. Even without knowing any background on the story, we know there was just a thin circle of engines around the fire. In order to deprive the fuel of fire, the firefighters asked spectators to help by chopping up fences and sidewalks. This way the fire fighters could focus on the engines.
Direct characterization describes the physical appearance of the character or his/her speech or actions. "<span>his hair was heavily shot with grey, but growing thick and healthy; his face was lean, but sanguine and expectant."</span>
