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CNN Live Today

Massive Wildfire Threatening Homes in Arizona

Aired June 24, 2002 - 11:53   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.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Now another scene of devastation that we have also been watching today is that out West with the wildfires there, covering a huge patch of western real estate. A stretch of ground about half the land area of Rhode Island is burning.

Even as we speak, the fires closing in on the town of Show Low, Arizona. Those folks there have grabbed their stuff and run, but CNN's Charles Molineaux is still there. He check in now live with the very latest -- Charles.

CHARLES MOLINEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Leon, except for what's going on here at the base camp for the firefighters camp Show Low, Show Low itself is pretty much a ghost town. This morning, the U.S. Forest Service is celebrating this, calling this a textbook operation overnight. In a strategic canyon actually just west of town, fire crews cut a six-mile long dozer line, and then burned back the available brush to create a barrier for the fire. Nonetheless, the Forest Service predicts, that it is inevitable the fire will come into Show Low barring some major change in the wind or the weather.

The fire has already burned some 300,000 acres. Yesterday, the Rodeo and Chediski Fires came together as one huge fire. The Rodeo- Chediski fire. Almost 200 homes have been destroyed by the fire. Firefighters have been working protection of structures, as well as trying to stamp the fire out in the woods. And in fact, the Show Low City Fire Department is also going to be involved in the efforts as the fire moves into the town over the course of what is expected to be the next couple days.

Some 30,000 people have evacuated from Show Low and surrounding communities, including the half dozen or so towns that have already been overrun by this fire. They are in a number of red cross shelters. Four of them have been set up in the area, and a lot of them are sitting, watching TV, trying to figure out what has happened to their homes. On the other hand, other people who just would rather face the fire itself, staying in the area. They have decided that rather than sit and wonder what has happened to the home, they are going to stay there and stick it out. We talked to them this morning.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We think that we are better off here at our homes. We have seen on TV a lot of people over there at the shelters, and they are over there wondering what's going on over here with their homes, in their hometown, and they are unable to get information. We are at our home. We know our home is safe. And so we feel comfortable there at our home as long as we can be there.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MOLINEAUX: Leon, this fire is now the number one priority fire in the country today. A fourth national level incident one management team, level one incident management team is expected -- let me try that again, a fourth type one incident management team is expected to be on the scene to deal with this. It's very unusual to see more than one type one team on the incident, and now this fire is going to have four of them.

HARRIS: That's significant. Charles, for those who aren't familiar with the terminology, what exactly is a type one team.

MOLINEAUX: This is a national level team of great expertise. A type one team is deployed when there's a danger of widespread threats to safety, a widespread destruction of property. They are disposed usually for very serious forest fires. It is not that common to see one on an ordinary forest fire, but when you see them show up, you know that you are dealing with people on a national level who are disposed of nationally to the scene, and this is obviously an extreme priority assigned to any incident when the type one folks show up. Now we have four teams.

HARRIS: Yes, good deal. All right, Charles Molineaux, thanks. Appreciate the report.

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