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CNN Live At Daybreak

Burning Coal Seam Blamed for Colorado Wild Fire

Aired June 10, 2002 - 06:06   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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: A coal seam burning underground is being blamed for a Colorado fire that has scorched around 7,000 acres. As reporter Paul Johnson of our Denver affiliate KUSA explains, even a river hasn't been able to stop the fire.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAUL JOHNSON, CNN AFFILIATE KUSA REPORTER (voice-over): The scope of the coal seam fire is staggering, somewhere upwards of 7,000 acres. They can't be sure yet, but spread out in dozens of hard-to- get-to spots around Glenwood Springs. Bridges, highways, even the Colorado River couldn't stop its advance.

MIKE FERRY, FIGHTER BEHAVIOR SPECIALIST: We can't get engines up around a lot of the fire. There are no roads, steep terrain, and right now, we don't have any of the crews in yet.

JOHNSON: But crews were here this afternoon to protect what's left of this community west of Glenwood Springs, there among the 24 homes destroyed so far.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I came out here, looked over my deck, and that ridge right there, totally in flames.

JOHNSON: Justin Glasnap (ph) was lucky. His home was spared.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are getting ready to roll here. I can see another fire sparking up on the ridge though.

JOHNSON: But like the 3,000 other evacuees, there is still no timetable for when they can return.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you want me to get you any shoes or anything, baby?

JOHNSON: While residents of Colorado's high country may feel like they have endured an entire season of wildfires, the season is only just beginning, and fire crews and resources that are gearing up now are in high demand.

FERRY: So we are kind of short on people nationwide.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: And that report from Paul Johnson of CNN affiliate KUSA in Denver.

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