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CNN Live At Daybreak
Colorado Wildfire Has Scorched Nearly 100,000 Acres
Aired June 14, 2002 - 06:04 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.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: On to Colorado now and the inferno there. Although cooler weather and mild winds --- milder winds, I should say, are helping firefighters make progress on that monster wildfire in Colorado, they have still got quite a mess on their hands. The fire has already scorched nearly 100,000 acres.
CNN's Lilian Kim joins us live from Castle Rock, Colorado with the latest -- good morning.
LILIAN KIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol. With lighter winds and cooler temperatures, Denver suburbs are safe for now, but residents farther out in the mountain communities are just now seeing the fire's destruction firsthand.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KIM (voice-over): For many families returning to their homes, this is all that's left.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's my (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. You found a picture, huh? What is it?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A book.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's one of your books.
KIM: At least 22 houses have been destroyed, leaving residents homeless and without their most cherished possessions.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My grandma knitted me a quilt for a wedding present, and we had had it for 15 years, and it was on the back of the couch.
KIM: And flames from the Hayman Fire burning just southwest of Denver could do more damage. The biggest risk area right now is at the fire's south end, where many residents are still unable to return home.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We were told we won't be able to go in for a minimum of three more days, but we feel that the Lord is watching over our place, and we are very grateful. KIM: About 1,000 men and women are here to fight the fire. They have been called in from across the U.S. to set control burns, dig containment lines and douse hot spots.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, we train all year for this. We go all over our own state. The state decided to deploy us out of state, and it's pretty much the same thing. It's just a long drive.
KIM: These crews could be here for a while. Fire officials say it could take up to three months to contain the nearly 100,000 acre blaze. All residents can do is wait.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All you do is stick your thumb in the air and hope for the best. So I think I'll be back there a lot sooner than not.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KIM: More than 5,400 people remain displaced from their homes. Now, firefighters are expecting favorable weather conditions today, but forecasters predict higher temperatures over the weekend.
Reporting live from Castle Rock, Colorado, I am Lilian Kim -- Carol, back to you.
COSTELLO: But those lighter winds will stick with them, and that's a good thing.
KIM: Yes, we are certainly hoping for that today.
COSTELLO: All right. Thank you -- Lilian Kim reporting live for us this morning.
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