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CNN Live Saturday

Darby Fire Moves Away From Residential Buildings

Aired September 08, 2001 - 16:08   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DONNA KELLEY, CNN ANCHOR: Wildfires raging in northern California. This one in Butte County called the Poe fire has consumed almost 6,600 acres. It's destroyed 36 buildings, including 26 homes, and still threatens more than 800 homes and other structures. The Poe fire is about 20 percent contained. The situation better in Calaveras County, where residents of about 400 homes have been allowed to return. The Darby fire is moving away from San Andreas, and that's where Mary Pitto of the Calaveras County Office of Emergency Services is joining us on the phone to give us a little more information.

Mary, what can you tell us about the fire where you are?

MARY PITTO, CALAVERAS COUNTY OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES: Well, the fire right now is doing pretty good. As you said, it is moving away from the residents and into the canyon. The north -- the northeasterly line has been set, and that will be used now to begin backfiring operations within the next few days. And they will backfire down to the river. The line that they still need to contain is on the eastern edge, and that -- today and tomorrow they will be putting in that line with dozers and hand crews.

KELLEY: Can you give us an idea of how many homes and people are threatened?

PITTO: Well, currently, the imminent danger to the homes, there are none since it has moved away. What the concern was previously with the community of Arnold, and there were approximately 2,400 homes that would have been threatened.

KELLEY: How about firefighters and equipment -- do you have enough, or are you getting more in?

PITTO: Actually, we do have enough. In fact, today they will be releasing some of the firefighters to go up to the Poe fire. As of this morning there were 3,006 firefighters and there were 261 engines; 150 of those engines will be released today.

KELLEY: And are you working around the clock on it? Are the shifts pretty well covered then?

PITTO: Yes, they are working around the clock.

KELLEY: OK, Mary Pitto with the information for us there; appreciate it. And it sounds like it's a little bit better, so that is good news, if it's changed directions for you. Thank you.

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