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CNN Live Today

Interview With Duane Baker

Aired October 24, 2003 - 11:43   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: We;re following this breaking news out of Southern California. The severe problem in trying to fight the wildfires especially in the Fontana area and Rancho Cucamonga. And right now we have on the phone with us Duane Baker, he's with the city manager's office of Rancho Cucamonga. Duane, thanks for being with us.
DUANE BAKER, CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, RANCHO CUCAMONGA: You're welcome.

KAGAN: I understand there have been a number of evacuations in your city.

BAKER: Yes, we have two areas where evacuations are going. This is the far northeast section of the community. It's a precaution, but we want to make sure we -- everyone is safe. Also out of the way of the smoke. It's thick and dense.

KAGAN: How many people or home in terms of evacuations?

BAKER: Right now about 100 homes are involved.

KAGAN: Is there a Red Cross Center or somewhere where people are being directed to?

BAKER: Yes, we have an evacuation center set up at Rancho Cucamonga High School at the corner of Rochester Avenue and Lark Drive in the city of Rancho Cucamonga. We have staff from the city and the Red Cross available there.

KAGAN: Have any homes been lost so far?

BAKER: No homes are being loss. We are doing great job of structure protection. We had a bit of time to prepare for this. We had a community meeting last night as a matter of fact to talk to folks about what would happen if we had to have evacuations in place. We think our staff is ready. And we think the residents are ready.

KAGAN: How close are the fires to homes at this point?

BAKER: The fires are very close. On the outside of some of the walls of some of the hopes there. These are homes new, built to the most current building standards with tile roofs, with firebreaks, separations around the tracts. We also have fire engine strike teams around and in those tracts of homes to make sure if embers do get on the patio covers, that we jump on that and make sure nothing spreads into the homes. KAGAN: We saw from the pictures fire trucks in front of specific newer homes hosing them down. That is good news, as well as the newer construction because that will make all the difference in the world as we have seen with past fires.

BAKER: Absolutely, it makes a big difference.

KAGAN: Finally, we were talking to a couple people earlier. First to a woman from the forest service. She was saying the Santa Anna winds kicked up earlier today than expected.

BAKER: That's right. We had the meeting with the community last night. We were saying we were expecting the winds not until either late this afternoon or tomorrow. The high winds are sort of coming earlier than we expected. But, we have been able to jump on top of it and get ready.

KAGAN: Finally, you mentioned the high school. We were able to talk with a teacher in Fontana, an elementary school there. Are the schools in your town closed?

BAKER: There's a number of school districts in Rancho Cucamonga. Most schools are still open. There are some closures in the Etiwanda school district and also the Los Osos High School part of the Chaffey Unified High School district is closed today.

KAGAN: Appreciate it. We know it's a busy day there for you in Rancho Cucamonga. We appreciate your time and wish you will in keeping everyone safe and the homes safe.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired October 24, 2003 - 11:43   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We;re following this breaking news out of Southern California. The severe problem in trying to fight the wildfires especially in the Fontana area and Rancho Cucamonga. And right now we have on the phone with us Duane Baker, he's with the city manager's office of Rancho Cucamonga. Duane, thanks for being with us.
DUANE BAKER, CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, RANCHO CUCAMONGA: You're welcome.

KAGAN: I understand there have been a number of evacuations in your city.

BAKER: Yes, we have two areas where evacuations are going. This is the far northeast section of the community. It's a precaution, but we want to make sure we -- everyone is safe. Also out of the way of the smoke. It's thick and dense.

KAGAN: How many people or home in terms of evacuations?

BAKER: Right now about 100 homes are involved.

KAGAN: Is there a Red Cross Center or somewhere where people are being directed to?

BAKER: Yes, we have an evacuation center set up at Rancho Cucamonga High School at the corner of Rochester Avenue and Lark Drive in the city of Rancho Cucamonga. We have staff from the city and the Red Cross available there.

KAGAN: Have any homes been lost so far?

BAKER: No homes are being loss. We are doing great job of structure protection. We had a bit of time to prepare for this. We had a community meeting last night as a matter of fact to talk to folks about what would happen if we had to have evacuations in place. We think our staff is ready. And we think the residents are ready.

KAGAN: How close are the fires to homes at this point?

BAKER: The fires are very close. On the outside of some of the walls of some of the hopes there. These are homes new, built to the most current building standards with tile roofs, with firebreaks, separations around the tracts. We also have fire engine strike teams around and in those tracts of homes to make sure if embers do get on the patio covers, that we jump on that and make sure nothing spreads into the homes. KAGAN: We saw from the pictures fire trucks in front of specific newer homes hosing them down. That is good news, as well as the newer construction because that will make all the difference in the world as we have seen with past fires.

BAKER: Absolutely, it makes a big difference.

KAGAN: Finally, we were talking to a couple people earlier. First to a woman from the forest service. She was saying the Santa Anna winds kicked up earlier today than expected.

BAKER: That's right. We had the meeting with the community last night. We were saying we were expecting the winds not until either late this afternoon or tomorrow. The high winds are sort of coming earlier than we expected. But, we have been able to jump on top of it and get ready.

KAGAN: Finally, you mentioned the high school. We were able to talk with a teacher in Fontana, an elementary school there. Are the schools in your town closed?

BAKER: There's a number of school districts in Rancho Cucamonga. Most schools are still open. There are some closures in the Etiwanda school district and also the Los Osos High School part of the Chaffey Unified High School district is closed today.

KAGAN: Appreciate it. We know it's a busy day there for you in Rancho Cucamonga. We appreciate your time and wish you will in keeping everyone safe and the homes safe.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com