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CNN Live At Daybreak
California Wildfires Worst in 10 Years
Aired October 27, 2003 - 06:05 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.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: To southern California now. Fourteen deaths are blamed on wildfires. At least 10 fires have burned more than a quarter-million acres. Fires are raging from Ventura County to San Bernardino County, and south to San Diego County.
Many San Diego residents were ordered to leave their homes. Flames are fanned by hot, dry Santa Ana winds, gusting at 45 miles per hour or higher. At least 600 homes have now been destroyed, perhaps many more by this time.
The smoke, shrouding the San Diego area, has forced the NFL to move tonight's Charger-Dolphins game from San Diego to Tempe, Arizona.
It's been a disastrous past few hours for thousands of people, and nearly a dozen wildfires, as we said, are burning through large parts of southern California.
CNN's Julie Cevine is on the scene of some of the devastation in Devore, California now.
JULIE CEVINE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Julie -- good morning to you.
That's right, 10 fires, more than a quarter-million acres charred. This fast-moving firestorm has left 14 people dead and destroyed at least 600 homes.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CEVINE (voice-over): The hardest-hit: San Diego County. The cedar fire scorching at least 100,000 acres and 250 homes -- a trail of devastation that's left at least 11 people dead.
Further north in San Bernardino County, merging fires are moving up the mountain, threatening at least two resort communities. The massive blaze destroyed more than 350 homes and 50,000 acres here. Thousands evacuated, fleeing with few possessions.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So, we had started taking pictures off the wall since we got up and getting stuff out of the safe.
CEVINE: At least 100 miles to the northwest in Simi Valley, the firestorm continues. Firefighters racing to keep the flames from moving into nearby communities; 80,000 or more acres leveled and more heartbreak for homeowners.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Everything. Pictures, everything. We didn't get anything out. All I have are the clothes on my back.
CEVINE: Governor Gray Davis declared disaster in four counties, calling on President Bush for help.
GOV. GRAY DAVIS (D), CALIFORNIA: These declarations pave the way for federal assistance.
CEVINE: As more than 7,000 firefighters battle the fires' unpredictable fury, the goal now is saving lives and homes. Authorities say containment could take weeks.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
Authorities are searching for two men in connection with the San Bernardino-area fires. In addition to arson, they could face murder charges because of the three deaths there.
Live in Devore, California, I'm Julie Cevine.
Heidi -- now back to you.
COLLINS: All right, Julie, we'll check in with you a little bit later on. Thanks so much.
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 27, 2003 - 06:05 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: To southern California now. Fourteen deaths are blamed on wildfires. At least 10 fires have burned more than a quarter-million acres. Fires are raging from Ventura County to San Bernardino County, and south to San Diego County.
Many San Diego residents were ordered to leave their homes. Flames are fanned by hot, dry Santa Ana winds, gusting at 45 miles per hour or higher. At least 600 homes have now been destroyed, perhaps many more by this time.
The smoke, shrouding the San Diego area, has forced the NFL to move tonight's Charger-Dolphins game from San Diego to Tempe, Arizona.
It's been a disastrous past few hours for thousands of people, and nearly a dozen wildfires, as we said, are burning through large parts of southern California.
CNN's Julie Cevine is on the scene of some of the devastation in Devore, California now.
JULIE CEVINE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Julie -- good morning to you.
That's right, 10 fires, more than a quarter-million acres charred. This fast-moving firestorm has left 14 people dead and destroyed at least 600 homes.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CEVINE (voice-over): The hardest-hit: San Diego County. The cedar fire scorching at least 100,000 acres and 250 homes -- a trail of devastation that's left at least 11 people dead.
Further north in San Bernardino County, merging fires are moving up the mountain, threatening at least two resort communities. The massive blaze destroyed more than 350 homes and 50,000 acres here. Thousands evacuated, fleeing with few possessions.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So, we had started taking pictures off the wall since we got up and getting stuff out of the safe.
CEVINE: At least 100 miles to the northwest in Simi Valley, the firestorm continues. Firefighters racing to keep the flames from moving into nearby communities; 80,000 or more acres leveled and more heartbreak for homeowners.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Everything. Pictures, everything. We didn't get anything out. All I have are the clothes on my back.
CEVINE: Governor Gray Davis declared disaster in four counties, calling on President Bush for help.
GOV. GRAY DAVIS (D), CALIFORNIA: These declarations pave the way for federal assistance.
CEVINE: As more than 7,000 firefighters battle the fires' unpredictable fury, the goal now is saving lives and homes. Authorities say containment could take weeks.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
Authorities are searching for two men in connection with the San Bernardino-area fires. In addition to arson, they could face murder charges because of the three deaths there.
Live in Devore, California, I'm Julie Cevine.
Heidi -- now back to you.
COLLINS: All right, Julie, we'll check in with you a little bit later on. Thanks so much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
