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CNN Live Today

Wildfires Threaten Denver

Aired June 14, 2002 - 14:09   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.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: The topic of concern in Colorado and surrounding states now is the raging fires, because suburban Denver residents are not out of the woods just yet, even though they are breathing a bit easier today.

CNN's John Zarrella joins us from Colorado, where firefighters are hoping to get a little bit of help from the weather today -- John.

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And they have been, Fredricka. We are here at the northern command center or a staging area where lots of the firefighters are assembling at and going out. A lot of the out-of-state firefighters are staying here in tents. And we were briefed just within the last hour by the forestry officials here and by the local officials, and the operative phrase is, "the prognosis is much better." Some very good news.

Yesterday and today, temperatures down, the wind down, humidity up, all good news for fighting this terrible Hayman fire, which has gobbled up nearly 100,000 acres. They were able to get in and start building some fire line, particularly in the north. The report is that they were able to do substantial fire building line in the north and got some work done as well down in the south, particularly with the slurry bombers going in and dropping retardant down there.

So finally, after a couple of terrible days, the last couple of days, making progress. If they could get a couple of more good days the forestry officials say the weather, that is good weather days, they would really be in good shape.

They took the opportunity, because of the optimum conditions to allow 131 people back to their homes to pick up some more belongings, but they are not allowing them to stay. They had to come back out. A total of 5,400 people still evacuated, but this, they say, is the first step toward allowing people back in.

But because this fire has been so maddening and so intense, they are not willing to say at this point that they are totally out of the woods in the Denver area, because this fire could still change at the drop of a hat.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVE FREELAND, FIRE INFORMATION OFFICER: As you probably have heard, this is probably -- this fire is the largest fire in recorded history in the state of Colorado. The other thing, it did burn 19 miles one day in a shift. That's probably something that has never been done that we are aware of, and nationally burned that much acres in that short a period of time.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZARRELLA: And that's the reason why they just don't want to take any chance of allowing people back in to stay in their homes and then have to turn around and re-evacuate them, but they do understand the frustration that the evacuees are dealing with, some not knowing whether their houses still exist, some who left not prepared for three or four or five days or longer being evacuated. So they do understand that people do need to start getting back to the homes, at least for a short period of time whenever possible to get more belongings out.

And hopefully, the weather will hold, and they will be able to really make some progress against this fire during the next couple of days -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: And that would be nice, because we know those firefighters have to be absolutely exhausted. They are working so hard out there, as are you, our John Zarrella -- thanks very much. I appreciate it.

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