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CNN Live At Daybreak
California Wildfires
Aired October 27, 2003 - 06:32 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: In southern California, 14 deaths are now blamed on wildfires. At least 10 fires have burned more than a quarter-million areas. 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 and leave quickly.
Flames are fanned by hot, dry Santa Ana winds, gusting at 45 miles per hour or higher. And at least 600 homes have been destroyed, perhaps many more by this time.
The smoke, shrouding the San Diego area, has forced the NFL to move tonight's Chargers-Dolphins game from San Diego to Tempe, Arizona.
We want to take you live now to where these fires are taking a terrific toll on property, as well as people's lives.
CNN's Julie Cevine is in Devore, California with the very latest this morning.
Julie -- hello once again.
JULIE CEVINE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Heidi.
Yes, we are here in Devore, California. You can see behind me, flames are moving up the mountain here, and they are moving toward two resort communities -- Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear.
We are in San Bernardino County, one of the hardest-hit areas, more than 350 homes destroyed here, thousands of evacuations. The winds are picking up here tonight, and we are standing by to see where exactly this fire will, in fact, be moving. It has been one of the most unpredictable areas out here. Two of the fires actually merged not far from here.
So, you mentioned San Diego County as well, and over 100,000 acres scorched there. So, certainly the devastation continues this morning here in southern California.
COLLINS: Julie, the video that we've been watching has really been incredible at how fast these fires are moving and, as you say, converging with one another. I'm wondering what you know. We've been hearing from our meteorologist, Chad Myers, that the Santa Ana winds will be shifting and moving off of that area. But I know this has always hampered the air attack when the winds are that bad. Have you seen any of the fixed-wing aircraft or the helicopters in the skies overhead trying to battle this with water or slurry? CEVINE: Yes, not at this point, but it is still quite dark out here. Hopefully, they will be back up in the morning and helping in those efforts.
But as of now, from what we understand, it's primarily ground crews who were out battling this blaze all night. Some 7,000 firefighters throughout southern California and other states are now being called in to assist in this effort.
COLLINS: Quickly, Julie, let me ask you about the latest on the suspects. There are two suspects that authorities are looking for?
CEVINE: Yes, they are looking for two suspects in connection with the San Bernardino-area fires. Those men -- suspects, rather, they could be charged with murder, as well as arson, because of the three deaths in San Bernardino County that are linked to those fires. So, they are searching for two suspects at this point.
COLLINS: All right, Julie Cevine giving us the very latest from Devore, California, this morning. Julie, 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 - 06:32 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: In southern California, 14 deaths are now blamed on wildfires. At least 10 fires have burned more than a quarter-million areas. 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 and leave quickly.
Flames are fanned by hot, dry Santa Ana winds, gusting at 45 miles per hour or higher. And at least 600 homes have been destroyed, perhaps many more by this time.
The smoke, shrouding the San Diego area, has forced the NFL to move tonight's Chargers-Dolphins game from San Diego to Tempe, Arizona.
We want to take you live now to where these fires are taking a terrific toll on property, as well as people's lives.
CNN's Julie Cevine is in Devore, California with the very latest this morning.
Julie -- hello once again.
JULIE CEVINE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Heidi.
Yes, we are here in Devore, California. You can see behind me, flames are moving up the mountain here, and they are moving toward two resort communities -- Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear.
We are in San Bernardino County, one of the hardest-hit areas, more than 350 homes destroyed here, thousands of evacuations. The winds are picking up here tonight, and we are standing by to see where exactly this fire will, in fact, be moving. It has been one of the most unpredictable areas out here. Two of the fires actually merged not far from here.
So, you mentioned San Diego County as well, and over 100,000 acres scorched there. So, certainly the devastation continues this morning here in southern California.
COLLINS: Julie, the video that we've been watching has really been incredible at how fast these fires are moving and, as you say, converging with one another. I'm wondering what you know. We've been hearing from our meteorologist, Chad Myers, that the Santa Ana winds will be shifting and moving off of that area. But I know this has always hampered the air attack when the winds are that bad. Have you seen any of the fixed-wing aircraft or the helicopters in the skies overhead trying to battle this with water or slurry? CEVINE: Yes, not at this point, but it is still quite dark out here. Hopefully, they will be back up in the morning and helping in those efforts.
But as of now, from what we understand, it's primarily ground crews who were out battling this blaze all night. Some 7,000 firefighters throughout southern California and other states are now being called in to assist in this effort.
COLLINS: Quickly, Julie, let me ask you about the latest on the suspects. There are two suspects that authorities are looking for?
CEVINE: Yes, they are looking for two suspects in connection with the San Bernardino-area fires. Those men -- suspects, rather, they could be charged with murder, as well as arson, because of the three deaths in San Bernardino County that are linked to those fires. So, they are searching for two suspects at this point.
COLLINS: All right, Julie Cevine giving us the very latest from Devore, California, this morning. Julie, 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.
