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CNN Live Today

Colorado Hit Hard by Wildfire

Aired June 04, 2002 - 10:09   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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Flames have marched across more than 30,000 acres in California, New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado, and Colorado right now, by far, is the worst as dozens of homes have burned and hundreds more are at risk. For the latest on this developing story, let's bring in reporter Greg Nieto, he is with our Denver affiliate, KWGN -- Greg, good morning.

GREG NIETO, KWGN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn. We are here near the town of Cotopaxi, Colorado, which is located some 120 miles south west of Denver. Ironically, yesterday Denver got hammered by rain. This area did not. We are here at one of the fire command centers, where a number of firefighters do come back to eat and sleep after a very long night of fighting the Iron Mountain fire.

You mentioned some of those homes that have been damaged or destroyed. Speaking of those homes, some video shot that will show you exactly how quickly that fire spread through certain subdivisions here, in this part of Colorado. Latest number, we have some 20 homes that have been destroyed, a total of 100 structures that have been hit. Firefighters are still making their way to some of the areas that have been damaged by the Iron Mountain fire to see if other homes have been destroyed. Many people who have been evacuated still do not know whether or not their homes have been destroyed.

Governor Bill Owens is slated to arrive here in this area within the next half hour or so to tour the fire area. He will make some recommendations. Ironically, later today, the governor will be holding a press conference on the status of fireworks. There is some concern out here in the state of Colorado that because of the dry conditions, that fireworks will be banned. It will be interesting to see if his tour has any bearing on his decision whether or not to ban fireworks in the state of Colorado for the summer.

A live look, once again, at the fire command center where a number of firefighters continue to eat and really rest as they have to head back out to the fire lines. We are talking about some 120 fire fighters that remain on the fire lines here near Cotopaxi, Colorado.

We are live this morning here in Cotopaxi, Colorado. Greg Nieto for CNN.

KAGAN: Greg, any clue about what this cause of this particular fire might have been? NIETO: Daryn, at this point, firefighters believe -- actually they are speculating at this point the fire may have been caused by a backyard fire grill.

KAGAN: And all the more reason to maybe ban fireworks. And, as you say, we will hear later today from the governor of Colorado on that decision. Greg Nieto from KWGN, thank you very much for that report.

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