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American Morning

Firefighters Continue Battle Against McNally Fire

Aired July 26, 2002 - 09:03   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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Arraignment is scheduled later today for a woman suspected of starting the fire threatening Sequoia National Park.

James Hattori in Johnsondale, California, this morning with more. The dawn of another day there.

James, good morning.

JAMES HATTORI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.

Here's the headline today, "The Fire Spares Giants," and of course talking about the 11 groves of giant sequoias that are threatened by the McNally Fire here in the Sequoia National Forest.

It is -- there is indeed optimism among firefighter who say they are making good progress. At the last update, about 48 -- 58,500 acres burned by the fire so far. Roughly 90 square miles that is. Crews have managed to contain about 10 percent of the fire lines, the perimeter of the fire that is. So far they're focusing on the western flank which is where the populated areas are. Also that's where those groves of sequoias, which are -- which are, of course, a high priority.

The fire has come as close as one mile to the sequoias, but crews are putting -- are clearing land to construct protective fire lines there. They say that work should be done in the next couple of days barring any setback, for example, due to weather.

As for the woman who is responsible, according to authorities, for the fire, she is due to appear -- she has been moved to Fresno, California. She's due to appear in federal court there this morning. We -- still unclear as to what charges she will face. The U.S. attorney's office has not returned our phone call for information. We do believe, as you know, the woman has stated that it was an accident, a campfire that got out of hand. And so it's still unclear what charges she will face. We'll learn more later this morning -- Bill.

HEMMER: James, thanks. James Hattori, again, in California this morning.

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