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CNN Live Today

Arizona Town Copes With Impending Conflagration

Aired June 26, 2002 - 13:31   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: Imagine if you had only a few hours, at the most, to save what you could from your home. You leave not knowing if you will ever see it again. That's the situation facing thousands of people outrunning the flames in Arizona. CNN's David Mattingly with a more personal view.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KEN MURPHY, MAYOR OF PAYSON, ARIZONA: I look at something like this, and I know that we have got hundreds and hundreds of firefighters by this time that are working on the fire, and I am just wondering, how do you stop something that big?

DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Using a borrowed video camera, Tim Murphy (ph) took to the air and captured these morning-after pictures, following Arizona's worst night of destruction so far. Under the immense cloud of smoke and ash, the smoldering town of Overgaard -- more than 200 buildings destroyed by a surging wall of flames.

MURPHY: Almost every other natural disaster leaves something behind that you can salvage from it, but fire doesn't leave you anything.

MATTINGLY: Sunday evening, Murphy captured these brilliant plumes of flame racing through the canyons on their way to Show Low. The fire's path was erratic and unstoppable. The conditions are so dry, he worries that a change of wind or a lightning strike could bring a similar fire to the town of Payson, where he is mayor and where hundreds of evacuees have already taken refuge.

MURPHY: I know my whole community here has stepped up to do things, but we all just wish we could do more.

MATTINGLY: Along the evacuees, Jerry (ph) and Sherry (ph) Walker, waiting for word that it is safe to take their five children home. They left with $200 in their pocket. Most of it is already gone, and for now so are their jobs and paychecks.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're down to about $70 now. And we don't know where the next money is going to come from.

MATTINGLY: Volunteers and a flood of donations try meet the immediate needs. Payson businesses offer free food, free movies, free swimwear for trips to the city pool. But in spite of the generosity, stress grows by the day. To pass the time at a Red Cross shelter, the Walkers' daughter Ashley draws a picture of their home in flames.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: ...the fire hits, it's all gonna be gone.

MATTINGLY (on camera): Reassuring words are few and far between. Even for those with houses still standing, it could be weeks before some of these people are allowed to return. David Mattingly, CNN, Payson, Arizona.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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