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CNN Live Today

Twenty-Seven Major Wildfires Burning in Nine States

Aired July 31, 2002 - 12:45   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: Now, moving on, we're going to head out West, where hot, dry conditions are fueling even more fires; 27 major wildfires now burning in nine states, most of them in Oregon. Two of the larger ones are threatening to merge in the Siskiyou National Forest. Several thousand people are on alert to evacuate. Joining us now on the phone from Portland, Oregon, Carol Toko (ph) with the agency that coordinates all the firefighting efforts.

Carol, hello.

CAROL TOKO (ph): Hello, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Are you still under a 24-hour evacuation notice?

TOKO (ph): Actually, yes, under notice. And if people have a 30-minute notice, if they get the word, the expectation is that they would be able to leave within 30 minutes. Access to that area is limited. We are encouraging people to leave voluntarily, particularly if they have animals, small children, they need more time, go ahead and do it now.

PHILLIPS: Tell us what exact communities are you talking about?

TOKO (ph): We have communities of Selma, Kirby, Cave Junction, O'Brien, a place called Wonder. They are small towns down through that Illinois River Valley, and then scattered homes along in there as well.

PHILLIPS: What about Patrick Creek in northern California. That was mentioned possibly.

TOKO (ph): Yes,. that's east of the perimeter of the Sour Biscuit fire. So that one is on alert as well.

PHILLIPS: Now, when -- I guess not a matter of if, but when these fires merge, what's the outlook, what type of resources are you going to need? Are you concerned you won't have enough firefighters to fight the blaze?

TOKO (ph): Well, merging those fires, it has a corridor right now between them that you wouldn't want to put anybody in between them to fight it, so merging them actually gives you one fire perimeter, and may make it easier to put a line around them to fight that fire. It's an extremely steep rough, rugged terrain. So finding places at which to put line in to stop a fire this size is really the challenge.

PHILLIPS: And still, lightning is the cause of these fires, is that correct?

TOKO (ph): That is correct.

PHILLIPS: All right, Carol Toko (ph) with the agency that coordinates all the firefighting efforts out there.

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