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CNN Live Today

Blazes in Southwestern Part of Oregon Designated Top Firefighting Priority

Aired August 01, 2002 - 11:02   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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Two huge wildfires are now a number-one priority. The blazes in the southwestern part of Oregon have been designated the top firefighting priority in the country . The fires could now force as many as 17,000 people to flee from their homes.

Our national correspondent Gary Tuchman joins us, he is Kerby, Oregon with the latest.

Gary, good morning.

GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Daryn, good morning to you.

Here in southwestern Oregon, they are used to wildfires. They are a reoccurring part of life here. But the two huge fires that are burning on the other side of this ridge behind -- and you can see some of the smoke coming over right now -- are especially fearsome, because they're growing so rapidly.

As of now, 180,000 acres of land have been blackened. It's expected over the next few weeks, and this fire will be burning for several weeks more, if not several months more, that up to half a million acres will be burned. Two separate fires, one of them is called the Florence Fire, named after the Florence Creek which is out there, 145,000 acres by itself, which is just that fire.

And then one mile south, and these fires are only separated by one mile, but one mile south, the Sour Biscuit Fire,another 35,000 acres. That's 180,000 acres all together. When these fires merge together, and when we say when, it is inevitable -- we will explain that in a minute. It'll be a 30-mile-long wall of flames from the Illinois river valley here in southwestern Oregon all the way into northern California.

If they don't merge together by themselves, fire officials will merge them together. They say it makes easier when you have one big fire instead of two separate fires so close together.

Seventeen-hundred firefighters are here, also members of the Oregon National Guard and U.S. Army troops all helping to fight it. Now as of now, only three structures have burned to the ground, cabins, but there, as you said, Daryn, 17,000 residents in the area just a few miles to the east of where these fires are burning. And they have been told to be alert for the possibility of an evacuation order. They will be told on the radio and on cable television, they have 30 minutes to leave their homes when it's considered too dangerous. Most of the people we have talked to here are very calm, but also quite alert.

KAGAN: Gary Tuchman in Oregon, we will check back with you.

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