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CNN Wolf Blitzer Reports

Ring of Fire Sweeps Across Southern California; Wave of Bloody Bombings Rock Baghdad

Aired October 27, 2003 - 17:00   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.


WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Happening now live pictures of a firestorm. Within the last hour the White House makes a disaster declaration. We're about to bring you CNN special coverage of the crisis in Southern California.
Stand by for hard news on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): Ring of fire, it's sweeping across Southern California.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All I have are the clothes on my back.

BLITZER: Who's next? We're on the fire line with news from the ground, from the air and from space.

Suicide attacks, a wave of bloody bombings in Baghdad, among the targets Red Cross Headquarters.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: They don't care who they kill. They just want to kill.

BLITZER: The hunter, he once promised to bring back the head of bin Laden in a box. We'll hear from America's point man for counterterrorism.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANNOUNCER: This is WOLF BLITZER REPORTS for Monday, October 27, 2003.

BLITZER: It's a disaster the likes of which haven't been seen in Southern California in more than a decade.

A ring of fire fanned by the region's notorious Santa Ana winds has consumed more than 300,000 acres, hundreds of homes, and at least a dozen lives, from Ventura County all the way to the Mexican border some 8,000 firefighters right now working on the ground and in the air to control at least ten major blazes that have destroyed humble trailer homes, million dollar mansions, and everything in between.

Even air travel has been affected with many flights in and out of Southern California canceled or delayed and a ripple effect that's impacting air travel all across the United States. We have CNN reporters and affiliates covering every angle of this quick-moving story. Let's start with by far the largest and deadliest fire, the so-called Cedar fire in San Diego County. CNN's Jeff Flock is there - Jeff.

JEFF FLOCK, CNN CHICAGO BUREAU CHIEF: Indeed, Wolf, we are in San Diego tonight. Indeed this is home to the Cedar fire and this is how San Diego has come to fight it.

Take a look at this behind me. We're in Balboa Park. These folks have come out to provide meals and drink for those folks who have been driven out of their homes, hundreds of people driven from their homes.

Take a look over here. This is a regional blood bank, all of these people seated in line here preparing to go in and give blood. As one person told me what else can you do? This is all we can do to try and give blood. Indeed, San Diego coming together today on a day where they were all expecting the worst.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FLOCK (voice-over): We began our day before the sun came up watching the so-called Paradise fire skip across the ridge lines in the towns of Escondido and Valley Center north of San Diego but the big monster was to the south and east.

The Cedar fire already consumed 100,000 acres by morning and was responsible for most of the 450 or so homes and businesses swallowed so far, many in San Diego proper.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I urge people who have been evacuated to stay out of their neighborhoods. I realize people are desperate to find out what the status of their homes are but it is a danger for them to return. The police department will let people know when it is safe to go back to their neighborhoods.

FLOCK: QUALCOMM Stadium, scheduled to be home to "Monday Night Football" tonight was instead packed with fire refugees getting food, water, and a place to stay while flames threaten their homes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Birth certificates, documents that can't be replaced that's the most important things in our children's lives, everything else can burn so we're just trying to get the important stuff right now and try not to panic. I know it's hard but we're trying.

FLOCK: The only good news the feared winds that a day earlier had whipped the flames into 30 or 40-foot walls of fire were calmer. Firefighters said so much ash in the air hid the sun and kept temperatures and the winds down but the San Diego fire chief says don't let down your guard.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Many people may think this fire looks contained. It is absolutely not. Containment of a brush fire means we have a perimeter line around the entire fire. We do not have that. Control of the fire is after we have it significantly extinguished. We're not even close to that yet.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FLOCK: And, Wolf, it could have been so much worse but take a look at the trees, not hardly a breath of air out here and boy that is great news because if those Santa Ana winds had come today with what we were looking at this morning it would have been a horrible day in San Diego. That's the latest, back to you.

BLITZER: Thanks very much, CNN's Jeff Flock in San Diego County, thanks Jeff.

Let's move north now to San Bernardino County where two fires have merged into one giant inferno. CNN's Miguel Marquez is in the city of Devore with the latest on that front - Miguel.

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And those two fires, the Grand Prix fire and the Old fire have merged in the spot where I am standing. It's an enormous fire complex at this point and the Simi Valley fire is now knocking on the door of Los Angeles.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARQUEZ (voice-over): Air crane choppers, 2,500 at a time, dropped water on what remains of Devore, California. The town, its homes, its residents have been under constant assault from flames and smoke driven by wind. A firefighter suffered second and third degree burns trying to protect a Devore home.

Northwest of Los Angeles, the Simi Valley fire ran across a major fire line and now threatens the Los Angeles city limits. Simi Valley residents poured into the streets after calls for evacuation from a fire that has charred its way through 85,000 acres.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've been watching it since yesterday morning and these firemen have been doing a great job. I started packing yesterday just to be prepared, had everything in the garage. My friends came over this morning about 3:30. We loaded everything up so as far as valuables, good valuables, the other stuff I don't care about. But these firemen are doing a fantastic job. They're all over the place and right now wait and see.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MARQUEZ: The cause of the Simi Valley fire is still not known. The cause of the Grand Prix fire is considered to be arson and the cause of the Old fire is also considered to be arson.

Police are actually looking for two men, two white men in their 20s driving a gray van. They also say that if they are charged with arson they could also be charged with murder because two people died in San Bernardino - Wolf.

BLITZER: Miguel Marquez on that front thanks very much, Miguel.

California's outgoing Governor Gray Davis speaking to reporters right now after touring the devastation. Let's listen in.

GOV. GRAY DAVIS (D), CALIFORNIA: ...put fires out throughout California; and two to help put people's lives back in order. Now, to put the fires out we are allocating every possible resource here in San Diego and around the state.

As I speak to you there are 110 fire engines in San Diego. I've ordered 60 more down this morning. They should start arriving this afternoon. I spoke to officials in Arizona, asked them for more help. They are sending 25 fire engines specifically to San Diego.

I spoke to the governor of Nevada, Governor Guinn, asked him for help for San Diego. He is sending 50 additional fire engines and two helicopters to San Diego. You will have as many fire engines as people here in San Diego. I exaggerate slightly but only slightly because we want every available resource here to knock down the fires and allow people to continue as best they can with their lives.

Now, in addition to the fire engines, I have the highway patrol working 12-hour shifts. Caltrans is working up and down the state helping people evacuate. The health department is providing advice and guidance to people, particularly seniors who are affected by the bad air. The mental health department is working with folks who have lost their homes trying to provide counseling to them.

Now, what are we doing to help people after the fire subsides in short to help them put their lives back in order? I called President Bush's chief of staff last night at ten o'clock his time at home to impress upon him how important it is to get the Federal Emergency Management Agency kick into gear and one stop shops up and running as soon as possible so people who have lost their home or their business have a place to go to fill out all the forms they need to get the financial relief they're entitled to.

I talked to the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency Mike Brown about an hour ago. He told me the president has recently signed a declaration of disaster I have asked him to sign. As you know, I sent him declarations of emergencies for four counties, including San Diego yesterday. He now has signed the document he has to sign.

And I impressed upon Andrew Card the need for these agencies, FEMA and the Small Business Administration Agency to move into gear immediately so checks can get written within a week or ten days and so that one stop centers are up and available here in San Diego, in Ventura County, in Los Angeles County and in San Bernardino County before the week is out.

Director Brown of the Federal Emergency Management Agency told he he'd be landing in California at 6:30 tonight. I'm going to talk to him again, impress upon him again the need to get these centers up and running.

I just want to tell the people who lost their homes or lost their business if they don't have the insurance necessary to make them whole and Insurance Commissioner Garamendi will speak to that in a moment, they are then entitled to low interest loans to rebuild their businesses or rebuild their homes.

And we want to get the paperwork in their hands by the end of this week, help them fill it out. We'll have people from the state office of emergency services, the local office of emergency services. I'm sure lots of elected officials will have their representatives there.

I spoke to Senators Feinstein and Boxer. They'll have their representatives there. We'll do everything we can to help you get the paperwork filled out and then I want to impress on Mr. Brown the need...

BLITZER: So, the governor of California Gray Davis wrapping up, assessing the current crisis in Southern California, appealing to the White House for more help.

The White House earlier in the day, specifically the president saying they'll do whatever is necessary to make sure the people of California affected by this will get the help they need. We'll continue to monitor what the governor is saying, get back there if necessary.

In all at least ten major fires are burning from north of Los Angeles to the Mexican border. They've scorched more than 300,000 acres in five Southern California counties. The flames are threatening some 30,000 homes.

That's on top of more than 800, 800 homes that have already been destroyed. And, across the region more than 8,000 firefighters are battling the flames including crews that have come from all across the United States to help out.

San Diego's Qualcomm Stadium is doubling up as a command post for relief efforts and for some makeshift evacuations as well. In light of the need, the NFL moved tonight's game with Arizona from San Diego to Tempe.

Joining us now by phone from the Qualcomm Stadium is David Patrone. He's a volunteer there. David, give us a sense what's happening at the stadium right now.

DAVID PATRONE, VOLUNTEER (via telephone): Well, actually right now we have a bunch of people are trying to spread out into the other relief efforts that we have around the county but all day yesterday and this morning, last night we had a tremendous amount of people out here.

It was, really the parking lot was pretty much filled out here for the stadium and we had a lot of people bringing in donations and a lot of volunteers coming by to help feed and offer counseling and emergency medical support for a lot of the people that had decided to come out here as a place to find some respite from losing their homes or being evacuated from their areas.

BLITZER: David, Qualcomm Stadium is not the Red Cross Center. There's a separate Red Cross facility dealing with these kinds of emergency situations but still people are coming to the Qualcomm Stadium?

PATRONE: Yes, what ended up happening in the beginning is Red Cross has probably about eight or nine stations in San Diego County but a lot of people were getting the word, you know, to come down here to Qualcomm and, as a matter of fact, so did I.

My brother and I came down here to help and ended up pretty much leading the whole effort out here and then people just kept showing up and we were getting on the radio and saying, hey, if you're available and you want to come down and help, come down and help and it just kept getting bigger and bigger and it was all grassroots.

We were trying to get Red Cross in here but they were, you know, they had all their places established already so we just did the best with what we had. I think we ended up kind of escheating all over their sites. Everybody knows Qualcomm Stadium so I think that just became a more attractive place for them.

BLITZER: David Patrone, good luck to you. Good luck to all the people you are trying to help over there. David Patrone is a volunteer coordinator. He's working at the Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego. Much more coming up on the devastation in Southern California, it's a huge area.

But there are other stories we're covering today as well, including Baghdad, blasts in Baghdad, a new wave of suicide bombings in Iraq, a shaken International Red Cross. Will the group continue its mission in Iraq?

Hunted al Qaeda, hear from the man who told President Bush he'd bring back the head of Osama bin Laden in a box and this...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's the biggest thing I've seen in 26 years.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Enormous wildfires engulfing Southern California, entire neighborhoods right now going up in flames. Find out which parts of the state, even in the country, could be next.

First, though, today's News Quiz.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER (voice-over): Sometimes wildfires can become so intense they take on tornado-like qualities. What is this called, firewhirl, fireball, firenado, fire tornado," the answer coming up.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Death defying jump, he took the ultimate plunge over Niagara Falls and lived. Hear from him live this hour. Stay with us. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back. We're covering the fires in Southern California.

Let's go to the air right now. Reporter Alex Cader of our affiliate KCAL-KCBS is over Simi Valley, California with the latest - Alex.

ALEX CADER, KCBS/KCAL CORRESPONDENT: A very busy day for Southern California firefighters, you're looking at the pass between Los Angeles County and Ventura County here. This is known as Rocky Peak, part of the Santa Susana Pass where fire crews have been set up all day trying to defend the city of Simi Valley from the approaching flames here.

That's the 188 freeway there. That's a very busy California freeway here, Southern California freeway and it's unfortunately one of only two ways into the Simi Valley. The other one is about 40 miles away by drive so many, many people trying to make their way either into or out of Ventura County today had another thing coming when they tried to make it through this area. This freeway was completely shut down.

Now, no structures were actually threatened in this area although across Southern California there have been numerous structures burned throughout the day. This is a ring of fire that actually started as a fire Friday afternoon about two o'clock California time. That fire at the time fire officials thought that that fire would be knocked down quickly but instead the winds picked up here in Southern California and the fire took off.

Now you see it burning here north of the 188 freeway. As a result of this fire that freeway remains closed at this hour. It's a commuter's nightmare here in Los Angeles as people try to get from Los Angeles County to Ventura County.

From Los Angeles, I'm Alex Cader, back to you.

BLITZER: Thanks very much, Alex, for that report, Alex Cader of our affiliate KCAL/KCBS. He's up in the sky in a helicopter, much more coming up on this devastation in Southern California.

But there's also devastation unfolding right now in Iraq. It's been another bloody day in Baghdad. At least 30 people are dead, more than 200 wounded in a wave of suicide bombings one of the targets the very symbol of neutrality.

CNN's Ben Wedeman reports from Baghdad.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Fire and flames outside the Red Cross Headquarters in Baghdad, the first of a series of car bombings to shake the city. Just after 8:30 a.m. Baghdad time, the city shuddered when a van with Red Crescent markings and packed with explosives crashed into a barrier outside the Red Cross. The blast killed at least ten people and wounded more than two dozen, all of them Iraqis.

BRIG. GEN. MARK HERILING, U.S. ARMY: This is a vein on the Iraqi people and I think the majority of the Iraqis here are tired of this and they want a safe and secure environment and these people are interfering with that.

WEDEMAN: Elsewhere in Baghdad four police stations were targeted by car bombers killing more than 20 people including five policemen and two American soldiers. One attack was narrowly averted and Iraqi police opened fire on a white Toyota Land Cruiser racing towards them. Iraqi police identified the driver, wounded in the incident, as a Syrian national.

The death toll for Monday's bombings may well exceed 30 making it the bloodiest single day in the Iraqi capital since the war that brought down the regime of Saddam Hussein.

(on camera): For Iraqis Monday marks the first day of the holy month of Ramadan, a time of fasting and festivity, of peace and harmony among believers. The holy month, however, seems to be getting off to an unholy start.

Ben Wedeman, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: The bombings come a day after a barrage of rockets hit a Baghdad hotel which houses coalition officials. One American was killed. Deputy U.S. Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz was staying at the hotel but was not injured.

As the smoke cleared in Baghdad, President Bush huddled with the U.S. administrator for Iraq vowing the coalition will not be intimidated by this wave of violence.

Let's go live to our CNN White House Correspondent Suzanne Malveaux - Suzanne.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, President Bush emerged from that Oval Office meeting with U.S. Civil Administrator Paul Bremer as well as the commander in charge in Iraq General Abizaid vowing to track down those terrorists and seek justice.

The president, of course, saying how that was going to be accomplished, he said he would fortify American installations as well as the borders with Iraq so that al Qaeda and other foreign fighters can't get into the country and to work better with the Iraqi people, particularly the Iraqi police.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) BUSH: We've hardened a lot of our targets for U.S. personnel there and today's attacks were against places like the Red Cross or police stations. These people will kill Iraqis. They don't care who they kill. They just want to kill and we will find them. That's exactly what we discussed on how best to do so.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Despite assurances from the White House that good progress is being made with utilities, schools, and governance, it's days like these that make it very difficult to convince the American people that that, in fact, is the case when violence overshadows the progress - Wolf.

BLITZER: To put it mildly, thanks very much Suzanne Malveaux for that report.

Here's your turn to weigh in on our web question. Our web question of the day is this. "Do the latest terror acts in Baghdad increase your resolve to help rebuild Iraq, yes or no"? You can vote right now, cnn.com/wolf. We'll have the results later in this broadcast.

And while you're there, I'd love to hear directly from you. Send me your comments. I'll try to read some of them on the air each day at the end of this program. That's also where you can read my daily online column, cnn.com/wolf.

Catching bin Laden, why the al Qaeda leader is so hard to find, hear from a former CIA operative who was targeted for assassination by the group; plus...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Birth certificates, documents that can't be replaced, that's the most important thing in our children's lives. Everything else can burn so we're just trying to get the important stuff right now not trying to panic. I know it's hard but we're trying.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Families and entire neighborhoods devastated by the raging inferno that is namely Southern California. Our live special coverage continues.

And this, a daring jump, he went over Niagara Falls with nothing but the clothes on is back and he lived. He shares his story with us live this hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: He's been on the hunt for Osama bin Laden, has also been hunted by bin Laden's terror network. The nation's point man for counterterrorism recently sat down with CNN's Mike Boettcher. Mike is joining us now live from the CNN Center in Atlanta - Mike. MIKE BOETTCHER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, after the 9/11 attacks, President Bush turned to the head of the CIA George Tenet to come up with a plan to go after al Qaeda.

Who did George Tenet turn to? Well, he turned to Cofer Black who was then head of his counterterrorism center. Cofer Black is now the State Department's ambassador for counterterrorism and he is still in the thick of it.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BOETTCHER (voice-over): When 9/11 took place, Cofer Black was running the CIA's counterterrorism center. The man whose job it was to go after Osama bin Laden; in fact, he already knew all about al Qaeda. He had been targeted for assassination by the group in 1995 when he was working for the CIA in Sudan.

(on camera): It was reported in Bob Woodward's book "Bush's War" that you told the president that you would bring the head of bin Laden in a box. Why is he so difficult to capture?

COFER BLACK, U.S. COORDINATOR FOR COUNTERTERRORISM: More than two-thirds of the al Qaeda leadership has been arrested, detained, put in jail, one way or the other. They're out of business. We've got more than 3,000, 3,400 of their operatives and support personnel around the world that have been arrested and detained by over 171 countries. But I guarantee you this fellow will get caught like the rest of them.

BOETTCHER: You do believe he's alive?

BLACK: I do believe that he is alive.

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: Ambassador Cofer Black - Cofer.

BOETTCHER (voice-over): A career CIA officer Cofer Black has a new job now. He's the State Department's ambassador in charge of counterterrorism. On his plate issues like Iran and whether its government really intends to turn over the al Qaeda members it says it has in custody.

BLACK: These people have threat information. They have information that can possibly save the lives of innocent men, women, and children somewhere on this planet. We are not confident that the Iranian government in their due process will provide this information to us and other recipients on a timely basis.

BOETTCHER: The war in Iraq has introduced a new dimension, the threat of terror attacks against U.S. soldiers there and it has raised concerns not only about Iran but another Iraqi neighbor, Syria.

(on camera): Can you help sort this out for us where you see Syria's plan right now?

BLACK: Well, we see the reality of individuals crossing the Syrian border that we find objectionable.

BOETTCHER (voice-over): Cofer Black says U.S. anti-terrorism efforts have come a long way since his first run-in with al Qaeda almost a decade ago, especially after 9/11. Now he compares the war on terror to a football game that the U.S. is winning 84-0 but he says that's not enough.

BLACK: Everyone who discounted terrorism is haunted by the fact that all they have to do is kick one field goal and it's a catastrophe. It's a catastrophe for the country and it's a catastrophe for those who do counterterrorism.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BOETTCHER: Why would someone subject themselves to such pressure? Well, Cofer Black says it is his calling, his contribution to his country - Wolf.

BLITZER: Mike Boettcher with a terrific report, Mike thanks very much for that.

Wildfires. They're burning out of control.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Our letters and our annuals and pictures when we were babies.

BLITZER: Residents return home to find nothing left. Our special coverage from the frontlines of the firelines will continue.

Santa Ana winds whipping fuel for this dangerous fire. An update on conditions right now, plus other areas in the United States that could feel the heat next.

Unprecedented plea ignored. Private revelations and now a very public battle between Princess Diana's two sons and her former butler.

Much more. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Is he sorry now? Coming up, I'll go one-on-one with the Niagara Falls jumper about his death-defying stunt.

Also, cities under smoke. An astonishing view of California's ring of fire.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back to CNN.

Ring of fire engulfing Southern California and devastating entire communities. You're looking at live pictures right now. Our special coverage of this story -- it's continuing.

First, though, let's get a quick check of the latest headlines.

(NEWSBREAK)

BLITZER: While Santa Ana winds are fueling the flames of those big wildfires around Los Angeles and San Diego, a lack of rain is a key contributor to their swift spread.

The concern is not limited to Southern California.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): The sheer scope of this disaster overwhelming, even for veteran firefighters.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's the biggest thing I've seen in 26 years.

BLITZER: Images of entire neighborhoods going up in flames. Families, whole communities scrambling to get out.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't know if you know -- I mean, they just did a full evacuation of my neighborhood. I'm the last guy on my entire street right now.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have plenty of time to get out. They came out and evacuated us with plenty of time. But I'm getting the hell out of here. Excuse me.

BLITZER: Perspective from space. This satellite image of the I- 5 corridor in Southern California reveals the extent of smoke plumes over San Diego, Los Angeles, Oxnard and out into the Pacific.

With tens of thousands of homes still in danger, who's next? Which regions of the country should be watching out?

We asked experts from the CNN Weather Center and from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It's a safe bet, if you live almost anywhere in Southern California, you should keep an eye on your nearest ridge line.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Unfortunately, for Southern California and the northern parts too, until they get appreciable rainfall in there, they're going to remain susceptible to the next offshore wind event.

BLITZER: From now until February, it's the Santa Ana wind season, bursts coming from north and east of California, getting drier as they blow southwest towards the Pacific.

Evenings don't guarantee relief. Santa Ana winds can sometimes peak at night.

Elsewhere, the so-called intermountain region covering Utah, eastern Nevada, northern Colorado, parts of western and northern Wyoming, southern Montana and Idaho now in either very dry or drought conditions, vulnerable, but heading into the snow and rain season and out of danger.

Timing is everything.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It would be a lot different case if this were the middle of the summer given the drought conditions that we have out west.

BLITZER: One expert summed up Southern California's seasonal bad luck. "They're the first to get winds, the last to get rain."

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: For more now on the Santa Ana winds or so-called "devil winds" that are fanning the flames in Southern California right now, we turn to CNN meteorologist Rob Marciano.

Rob, give us some background, some perspective on all this.

ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, compared to yesterday, today is a definitely less extreme day. We haven't seen wind gusts to the extreme of yesterday or the day before -- 40, 50 miles an hour. And matter of fact, I've been hard-pressed to find observations that show wind gusts in excess of 25 miles an hour. And most of what I've seen, especially near the metro areas -- the winds also want to turn more onshore, which is what we're looking for to get some higher levels of humidity in the air.

All right. Here are how the Santa Ana winds work. As Wolf mentioned, we're in the beginning of the Santa Ana season, with these winds possible right on through February. We look for warm, dry air to come off the mountains. That compresses the air. Ten to 30 mile an hour winds have been the call today. That is down from yesterday. Low levels of humidity continue. And, at times, the gusts obviously posing a problem.

But as we go through tomorrow, that high's going to try to shift. We'll look for lighter winds and, at times, especially along the coastal regions, we'll look for the winds to become more onshore. And that will cool down just about everybody a little bit tomorrow. But everybody will see drastically cooler temperatures, and, more importantly, higher levels of humidity with a strong onshore wind on Wednesday. And good news there is beginning on Wednesday, the longer term weather patterns bring that same sort of cool and damp air right on through the weekend.

So we've improved things a little bit today, Wolf. We'll improve things farther tomorrow. And as we go through Wednesday and into the weekend, it should certainly hold better for firefighters.

Back to you.

BLITZER: CNN's Rob Marciano, thanks very much. Let's hope that all works out.

A desperate battle against raging wildfires in Southern California. Our special coverage continuing this hour.

Pieces of a puzzle. The trial of suspected D.C.-area sniper John Allan Muhammad -- it resumes. But the focus may surprise you today.

And the man who jumped over Niagara Falls and lived. We'll get to that live.

But first, a quick look at other news making headlines "Around the World."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): Muslims around the world are observing the holy month of Ramadan. Islam's most sacred time of year began yesterday. Muslims are called on to fast from dawn to dusk and abstain from sex. Ramadan commemorates the revelation of the Koran, the sacred book.

Russia's president is urging everyone to stop the hysteria over the country's richest man. The oil companies CEO is charged with fraud, embezzlement and tax evasion. Some business leaders fear the case could jeopardize privatization.

The latest controversial tell-all book about the late Princess Diana is in book stories. The author, her former butler and confident, Paul Burrell. Last week Diana's sons released a scathing statement criticizing him for his "Cold and overt betrayal." Still, the book is selling well, and the publisher says a second printing will be needed.

Some 200 works by Pablo Picasso in a museum in Malaga, Spain where, he was born. The pieces were donated by his family. The king and queen of the Spain were on hand for the opening.

And clowns on parade in Mexico City. It is the culmination of the Brotherhood of Clowns Convention now in its eighth year. About 600 clowns took part, most of them from the U.S. and Center America. And that's our look "Around the World."

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back.

Topping our "Justice Report," the trial of the sniper suspect John Allen Muhammad. The second week of testimony is under way after the trial resumed today in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Right now the focus is on the killings that terrorized the Washington area last fall. Earlier today focus -- there was testimony that focus on a couple of the shootings that took place in Louisiana and Alabama. Muhammad is on trial for a shooting death outside a Manassas, Virginia gas station.

In Galveston, Texas, a real estate heir accused of killing a neighbor testified today he was drunk while dismembering the victim. He said he cut up the victim's body in a panic fearing the police would not believe his claim of an accidental shooting. He is on trial for murder. The husband of Terri Schiavo has until Wednesday to challenge a new created law giving the Florida governor the power to order her feeding tube reconnected. State lawmaker named the week old law Terri's law for the severely brain damaged women. Marry -- Michael Schiavo that is has waged a legal battle for years to allow his wife to die.

For the first time in five years, Michael Schiavo will speak out publicly. And you can see it only here on CNN. Schiavo will appear on CNN's "LARRY KING LIVE," 9:00 p.m. Eastern, 6:00 Pacific here on CNN.

Hell on earth. Dead lie wildfires blaze through Southern California. We have got several reporters on the scene.

Caught on tape. The days most dramatic images from the fire lines. First, though, a look at some other stories you may have missed this weekend.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): Starving boys. A New Jersey husband and wife are accused of abusing four boys they adopted by trying to starve them. The boys' ages range from 9 to 19. The oldest weighed only 40 pounds when authorities found him rummaging through a neighbor's trash earlier this month. He's now in a hospital. The other boys were also severely malnourished. State officials are trying to determine why a division of youth and family services case worker who visited the home did not notice the abuse.

Deadly bank heist. The FBI is look fog two Florida men suspected of killing a bank employee in an Atlanta suburb. The two were identified as being from Orlando. The bank employee was shot Friday morning as she arrived to open the bank.

World champs. The best in baseball are back home in south Florida after winning the World Series Saturday night. The Florida Marlins knocked off the Yankees 2-0 in game six.

New York news. The Big Apple's Grand Central Terminal was filled with hundreds of women yesterday all without their clothes on. The photo shoot was part of a project by a New York artist who has done similar shoots in London and other major cities around the world.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Welcome to Fantasy Fest.

Fantasy Fest. Thousands of revelers turned out in Key West, Florida for a big street party. The annual event showcases the town's reputation for off-beat creativity. And that's our "Weekend Snapshot."

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) BLITZER (voice-over): Sometimes wildfires can become so intense they take on tornado-like qualities. What is this called? The answer, firenado. Firenado is an intense tornado-like whirlwind that forms in the plume of heated air rising above a large fire. Tornadoes begins with a thunder head cloud and build downward, but firenadoes start at the ground and build up. This firenado occurred Saturday in Rancho Cucomunga, California. CNN reporter Miguel Marquez and his crew captured it on tape.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: More now on our top story. The wind-whipped wildfires racing across large portions of Southern California.

We have two reports from our affiliates on the scene, beginning in hard-hit San Diego County.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is incredible, the devastation fire can cause. Two homes here side by side, shake shingle roofs. Obviously, and they're gone. You look across to the other side, there's a house on one side that's still standing unmarked, and there is a house right there. Still standing, unmarked. They don't have shake shingles roofs.

If it sounds like I'm beating this horse, I am.

LORA MCLAUGHLIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We've been hearing it all day long from fire officials just how sporadic these fires can be. There is no better example than here on BelParezo (ph) drive in Claremont. You can see behind me, there are a good five or six homes that are completely untouched. If you took a picture of them, you would be hard pressed to find any damage on any of those homes. If there is some, it's very slight. Maybe on a wood deck or a patio.

However, as we pan over here, you can see the situation is much different. This home is completely destroyed. We caught up with some fire officials who came by earlier to work on the hot spots. They told us every house in this Claremont area, dozens and dozens of the homes, had one thing in common. That is the wood shingled roof.

All these homes were built around the '80s. It was a very popular roof to have back then. However, it has equalled -- it has ended up causing a demise of all of these homes. As you can see, there is still some smoldering spots throughout this house. All of the homes have this in common right now. A strike team was up here trying to actually put out the hot spots the best they could. However, when they were here at this house with us, they were called away because they needed to head on down the road to Devore (ph).

The Grand Prix fire that moved through here over the weekend made its way down to Devore (ph) and is causing some big problems over there now. So they left these hot spots, told me they are hoping for the best, that the winds will cooperate and keep them low as they are right now and they will be able to put themselves out. Whatever the situation is, they are needed elsewhere, they tell me, because the situation is just too dangerous.

However, they're telling everyone, if you have these wood roofs, if you haven't made the investment to change them, no matter what the reason is, now is a good time to do it.

The home owner of this house tells me she bought it in 1980. She has been the only owner. She has thought about changing it several times. In fact, she had been evacuated a couple of times before over the years because of brush fires, but was able to make it without any damage. This time she didn't think it would be any different. But in the end, it is the roof that caused her to lose her home.

In Claremont, Lora McLaughlin, for CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Battling the blazes in Southern California. Thousands of firefighters trying to get control right now. Emotional images of the day when we return. And do the latest terror acts in Baghdad increase your resolve to help rebuild Iraq? You can vote right now, cnn.com/wolf.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: We'll show our viewers these live pictures we're getting in courtesy of our affiliate KCBS KCAL out in Southern California. The devastation continues. The wildfires affecting Los Angeles, San Diego, all sorts of areas in between and beyond. This is a devastating fire. Thirteen people killed so far. More than 800 homes have been destroyed. But thousands of others are in jeopardy right now. We'll continue to cover this story for you. And while the firefighters are working and home owners are fleeing, legions of still photographers are chronicling the devastation in Southern California. They provide just a frame but more than a snapshot of the fear, panic and resignation. Sean Callebs now with a selection of the still photos in our "Picture of the Day."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): High drama just off the highway. Overmatched and overburdened firefighters in Ventura County as flames race along the Ronald Reagan Highway. In its wake, charred terrain welcoming motorists. An assault from the air but dry, brittle conditions and unrelenting Santa Ana winds fuel and feed the fires. The California sun, in a futile attempt to poke through the haze and thick smoke.

A garden hose and desperation are the tools against the most damaging fire in a decade, and even for the most experienced sometimes it comes down to a deadly foot race to escape flames that so far chewed through nearly 500 square miles of Southern California real estate. And part of the misfortune, if it wasn't so destructive, so deadly and so tragic, the effect on the evening sky could, at times, be called breathtaking. Sean Callebs, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: What devastation. Here is your chance to weigh in on our Web question of the day. Do the latest terror acts in Baghdad increase your resolve to rebuild Iraq? Look at this, 38 percent of you say yes, 62 percent, yes, 62 percent of you say no. As always, we tell you this, this is not, repeat not, a scientific poll.

Let's get to some of your e-mail. Florence writes this: "It makes me sick to hear stories such as Michael Schiavo, who wants to let his wife, Terri Schiavo, starve to death, not to stop her suffering but to end his own. How totally selfish."

Meanwhile, Danny writes this: "Could we please get back to some sanity here. This case has become all about politics, power, and who can wield the most clout. The next of kin along with medical experts should be making this final decision."

We want to apologize to our viewers. We had planned to bring you a live interview with Kirk Jones this hour, the man who jumped into Niagara Falls. We were not able to bring that to you. We'll try to reschedule the interview. A reminder, you can always catch us, WOLF BLITZER REPORTS, weekdays, 5:00 p.m. Eastern. Also, I'm back, noon Eastern.

Tomorrow, tomorrow, 5:00 p.m., we'll speak with Thomas Friedman of "The New York Times."

Until then, thanks very much for watching.

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





Bloody Bombings Rock Baghdad>


Aired October 27, 2003 - 17:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Happening now live pictures of a firestorm. Within the last hour the White House makes a disaster declaration. We're about to bring you CNN special coverage of the crisis in Southern California.
Stand by for hard news on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): Ring of fire, it's sweeping across Southern California.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All I have are the clothes on my back.

BLITZER: Who's next? We're on the fire line with news from the ground, from the air and from space.

Suicide attacks, a wave of bloody bombings in Baghdad, among the targets Red Cross Headquarters.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: They don't care who they kill. They just want to kill.

BLITZER: The hunter, he once promised to bring back the head of bin Laden in a box. We'll hear from America's point man for counterterrorism.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANNOUNCER: This is WOLF BLITZER REPORTS for Monday, October 27, 2003.

BLITZER: It's a disaster the likes of which haven't been seen in Southern California in more than a decade.

A ring of fire fanned by the region's notorious Santa Ana winds has consumed more than 300,000 acres, hundreds of homes, and at least a dozen lives, from Ventura County all the way to the Mexican border some 8,000 firefighters right now working on the ground and in the air to control at least ten major blazes that have destroyed humble trailer homes, million dollar mansions, and everything in between.

Even air travel has been affected with many flights in and out of Southern California canceled or delayed and a ripple effect that's impacting air travel all across the United States. We have CNN reporters and affiliates covering every angle of this quick-moving story. Let's start with by far the largest and deadliest fire, the so-called Cedar fire in San Diego County. CNN's Jeff Flock is there - Jeff.

JEFF FLOCK, CNN CHICAGO BUREAU CHIEF: Indeed, Wolf, we are in San Diego tonight. Indeed this is home to the Cedar fire and this is how San Diego has come to fight it.

Take a look at this behind me. We're in Balboa Park. These folks have come out to provide meals and drink for those folks who have been driven out of their homes, hundreds of people driven from their homes.

Take a look over here. This is a regional blood bank, all of these people seated in line here preparing to go in and give blood. As one person told me what else can you do? This is all we can do to try and give blood. Indeed, San Diego coming together today on a day where they were all expecting the worst.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FLOCK (voice-over): We began our day before the sun came up watching the so-called Paradise fire skip across the ridge lines in the towns of Escondido and Valley Center north of San Diego but the big monster was to the south and east.

The Cedar fire already consumed 100,000 acres by morning and was responsible for most of the 450 or so homes and businesses swallowed so far, many in San Diego proper.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I urge people who have been evacuated to stay out of their neighborhoods. I realize people are desperate to find out what the status of their homes are but it is a danger for them to return. The police department will let people know when it is safe to go back to their neighborhoods.

FLOCK: QUALCOMM Stadium, scheduled to be home to "Monday Night Football" tonight was instead packed with fire refugees getting food, water, and a place to stay while flames threaten their homes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Birth certificates, documents that can't be replaced that's the most important things in our children's lives, everything else can burn so we're just trying to get the important stuff right now and try not to panic. I know it's hard but we're trying.

FLOCK: The only good news the feared winds that a day earlier had whipped the flames into 30 or 40-foot walls of fire were calmer. Firefighters said so much ash in the air hid the sun and kept temperatures and the winds down but the San Diego fire chief says don't let down your guard.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Many people may think this fire looks contained. It is absolutely not. Containment of a brush fire means we have a perimeter line around the entire fire. We do not have that. Control of the fire is after we have it significantly extinguished. We're not even close to that yet.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FLOCK: And, Wolf, it could have been so much worse but take a look at the trees, not hardly a breath of air out here and boy that is great news because if those Santa Ana winds had come today with what we were looking at this morning it would have been a horrible day in San Diego. That's the latest, back to you.

BLITZER: Thanks very much, CNN's Jeff Flock in San Diego County, thanks Jeff.

Let's move north now to San Bernardino County where two fires have merged into one giant inferno. CNN's Miguel Marquez is in the city of Devore with the latest on that front - Miguel.

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And those two fires, the Grand Prix fire and the Old fire have merged in the spot where I am standing. It's an enormous fire complex at this point and the Simi Valley fire is now knocking on the door of Los Angeles.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARQUEZ (voice-over): Air crane choppers, 2,500 at a time, dropped water on what remains of Devore, California. The town, its homes, its residents have been under constant assault from flames and smoke driven by wind. A firefighter suffered second and third degree burns trying to protect a Devore home.

Northwest of Los Angeles, the Simi Valley fire ran across a major fire line and now threatens the Los Angeles city limits. Simi Valley residents poured into the streets after calls for evacuation from a fire that has charred its way through 85,000 acres.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've been watching it since yesterday morning and these firemen have been doing a great job. I started packing yesterday just to be prepared, had everything in the garage. My friends came over this morning about 3:30. We loaded everything up so as far as valuables, good valuables, the other stuff I don't care about. But these firemen are doing a fantastic job. They're all over the place and right now wait and see.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MARQUEZ: The cause of the Simi Valley fire is still not known. The cause of the Grand Prix fire is considered to be arson and the cause of the Old fire is also considered to be arson.

Police are actually looking for two men, two white men in their 20s driving a gray van. They also say that if they are charged with arson they could also be charged with murder because two people died in San Bernardino - Wolf.

BLITZER: Miguel Marquez on that front thanks very much, Miguel.

California's outgoing Governor Gray Davis speaking to reporters right now after touring the devastation. Let's listen in.

GOV. GRAY DAVIS (D), CALIFORNIA: ...put fires out throughout California; and two to help put people's lives back in order. Now, to put the fires out we are allocating every possible resource here in San Diego and around the state.

As I speak to you there are 110 fire engines in San Diego. I've ordered 60 more down this morning. They should start arriving this afternoon. I spoke to officials in Arizona, asked them for more help. They are sending 25 fire engines specifically to San Diego.

I spoke to the governor of Nevada, Governor Guinn, asked him for help for San Diego. He is sending 50 additional fire engines and two helicopters to San Diego. You will have as many fire engines as people here in San Diego. I exaggerate slightly but only slightly because we want every available resource here to knock down the fires and allow people to continue as best they can with their lives.

Now, in addition to the fire engines, I have the highway patrol working 12-hour shifts. Caltrans is working up and down the state helping people evacuate. The health department is providing advice and guidance to people, particularly seniors who are affected by the bad air. The mental health department is working with folks who have lost their homes trying to provide counseling to them.

Now, what are we doing to help people after the fire subsides in short to help them put their lives back in order? I called President Bush's chief of staff last night at ten o'clock his time at home to impress upon him how important it is to get the Federal Emergency Management Agency kick into gear and one stop shops up and running as soon as possible so people who have lost their home or their business have a place to go to fill out all the forms they need to get the financial relief they're entitled to.

I talked to the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency Mike Brown about an hour ago. He told me the president has recently signed a declaration of disaster I have asked him to sign. As you know, I sent him declarations of emergencies for four counties, including San Diego yesterday. He now has signed the document he has to sign.

And I impressed upon Andrew Card the need for these agencies, FEMA and the Small Business Administration Agency to move into gear immediately so checks can get written within a week or ten days and so that one stop centers are up and available here in San Diego, in Ventura County, in Los Angeles County and in San Bernardino County before the week is out.

Director Brown of the Federal Emergency Management Agency told he he'd be landing in California at 6:30 tonight. I'm going to talk to him again, impress upon him again the need to get these centers up and running.

I just want to tell the people who lost their homes or lost their business if they don't have the insurance necessary to make them whole and Insurance Commissioner Garamendi will speak to that in a moment, they are then entitled to low interest loans to rebuild their businesses or rebuild their homes.

And we want to get the paperwork in their hands by the end of this week, help them fill it out. We'll have people from the state office of emergency services, the local office of emergency services. I'm sure lots of elected officials will have their representatives there.

I spoke to Senators Feinstein and Boxer. They'll have their representatives there. We'll do everything we can to help you get the paperwork filled out and then I want to impress on Mr. Brown the need...

BLITZER: So, the governor of California Gray Davis wrapping up, assessing the current crisis in Southern California, appealing to the White House for more help.

The White House earlier in the day, specifically the president saying they'll do whatever is necessary to make sure the people of California affected by this will get the help they need. We'll continue to monitor what the governor is saying, get back there if necessary.

In all at least ten major fires are burning from north of Los Angeles to the Mexican border. They've scorched more than 300,000 acres in five Southern California counties. The flames are threatening some 30,000 homes.

That's on top of more than 800, 800 homes that have already been destroyed. And, across the region more than 8,000 firefighters are battling the flames including crews that have come from all across the United States to help out.

San Diego's Qualcomm Stadium is doubling up as a command post for relief efforts and for some makeshift evacuations as well. In light of the need, the NFL moved tonight's game with Arizona from San Diego to Tempe.

Joining us now by phone from the Qualcomm Stadium is David Patrone. He's a volunteer there. David, give us a sense what's happening at the stadium right now.

DAVID PATRONE, VOLUNTEER (via telephone): Well, actually right now we have a bunch of people are trying to spread out into the other relief efforts that we have around the county but all day yesterday and this morning, last night we had a tremendous amount of people out here.

It was, really the parking lot was pretty much filled out here for the stadium and we had a lot of people bringing in donations and a lot of volunteers coming by to help feed and offer counseling and emergency medical support for a lot of the people that had decided to come out here as a place to find some respite from losing their homes or being evacuated from their areas.

BLITZER: David, Qualcomm Stadium is not the Red Cross Center. There's a separate Red Cross facility dealing with these kinds of emergency situations but still people are coming to the Qualcomm Stadium?

PATRONE: Yes, what ended up happening in the beginning is Red Cross has probably about eight or nine stations in San Diego County but a lot of people were getting the word, you know, to come down here to Qualcomm and, as a matter of fact, so did I.

My brother and I came down here to help and ended up pretty much leading the whole effort out here and then people just kept showing up and we were getting on the radio and saying, hey, if you're available and you want to come down and help, come down and help and it just kept getting bigger and bigger and it was all grassroots.

We were trying to get Red Cross in here but they were, you know, they had all their places established already so we just did the best with what we had. I think we ended up kind of escheating all over their sites. Everybody knows Qualcomm Stadium so I think that just became a more attractive place for them.

BLITZER: David Patrone, good luck to you. Good luck to all the people you are trying to help over there. David Patrone is a volunteer coordinator. He's working at the Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego. Much more coming up on the devastation in Southern California, it's a huge area.

But there are other stories we're covering today as well, including Baghdad, blasts in Baghdad, a new wave of suicide bombings in Iraq, a shaken International Red Cross. Will the group continue its mission in Iraq?

Hunted al Qaeda, hear from the man who told President Bush he'd bring back the head of Osama bin Laden in a box and this...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's the biggest thing I've seen in 26 years.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Enormous wildfires engulfing Southern California, entire neighborhoods right now going up in flames. Find out which parts of the state, even in the country, could be next.

First, though, today's News Quiz.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER (voice-over): Sometimes wildfires can become so intense they take on tornado-like qualities. What is this called, firewhirl, fireball, firenado, fire tornado," the answer coming up.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Death defying jump, he took the ultimate plunge over Niagara Falls and lived. Hear from him live this hour. Stay with us. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back. We're covering the fires in Southern California.

Let's go to the air right now. Reporter Alex Cader of our affiliate KCAL-KCBS is over Simi Valley, California with the latest - Alex.

ALEX CADER, KCBS/KCAL CORRESPONDENT: A very busy day for Southern California firefighters, you're looking at the pass between Los Angeles County and Ventura County here. This is known as Rocky Peak, part of the Santa Susana Pass where fire crews have been set up all day trying to defend the city of Simi Valley from the approaching flames here.

That's the 188 freeway there. That's a very busy California freeway here, Southern California freeway and it's unfortunately one of only two ways into the Simi Valley. The other one is about 40 miles away by drive so many, many people trying to make their way either into or out of Ventura County today had another thing coming when they tried to make it through this area. This freeway was completely shut down.

Now, no structures were actually threatened in this area although across Southern California there have been numerous structures burned throughout the day. This is a ring of fire that actually started as a fire Friday afternoon about two o'clock California time. That fire at the time fire officials thought that that fire would be knocked down quickly but instead the winds picked up here in Southern California and the fire took off.

Now you see it burning here north of the 188 freeway. As a result of this fire that freeway remains closed at this hour. It's a commuter's nightmare here in Los Angeles as people try to get from Los Angeles County to Ventura County.

From Los Angeles, I'm Alex Cader, back to you.

BLITZER: Thanks very much, Alex, for that report, Alex Cader of our affiliate KCAL/KCBS. He's up in the sky in a helicopter, much more coming up on this devastation in Southern California.

But there's also devastation unfolding right now in Iraq. It's been another bloody day in Baghdad. At least 30 people are dead, more than 200 wounded in a wave of suicide bombings one of the targets the very symbol of neutrality.

CNN's Ben Wedeman reports from Baghdad.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Fire and flames outside the Red Cross Headquarters in Baghdad, the first of a series of car bombings to shake the city. Just after 8:30 a.m. Baghdad time, the city shuddered when a van with Red Crescent markings and packed with explosives crashed into a barrier outside the Red Cross. The blast killed at least ten people and wounded more than two dozen, all of them Iraqis.

BRIG. GEN. MARK HERILING, U.S. ARMY: This is a vein on the Iraqi people and I think the majority of the Iraqis here are tired of this and they want a safe and secure environment and these people are interfering with that.

WEDEMAN: Elsewhere in Baghdad four police stations were targeted by car bombers killing more than 20 people including five policemen and two American soldiers. One attack was narrowly averted and Iraqi police opened fire on a white Toyota Land Cruiser racing towards them. Iraqi police identified the driver, wounded in the incident, as a Syrian national.

The death toll for Monday's bombings may well exceed 30 making it the bloodiest single day in the Iraqi capital since the war that brought down the regime of Saddam Hussein.

(on camera): For Iraqis Monday marks the first day of the holy month of Ramadan, a time of fasting and festivity, of peace and harmony among believers. The holy month, however, seems to be getting off to an unholy start.

Ben Wedeman, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: The bombings come a day after a barrage of rockets hit a Baghdad hotel which houses coalition officials. One American was killed. Deputy U.S. Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz was staying at the hotel but was not injured.

As the smoke cleared in Baghdad, President Bush huddled with the U.S. administrator for Iraq vowing the coalition will not be intimidated by this wave of violence.

Let's go live to our CNN White House Correspondent Suzanne Malveaux - Suzanne.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, President Bush emerged from that Oval Office meeting with U.S. Civil Administrator Paul Bremer as well as the commander in charge in Iraq General Abizaid vowing to track down those terrorists and seek justice.

The president, of course, saying how that was going to be accomplished, he said he would fortify American installations as well as the borders with Iraq so that al Qaeda and other foreign fighters can't get into the country and to work better with the Iraqi people, particularly the Iraqi police.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) BUSH: We've hardened a lot of our targets for U.S. personnel there and today's attacks were against places like the Red Cross or police stations. These people will kill Iraqis. They don't care who they kill. They just want to kill and we will find them. That's exactly what we discussed on how best to do so.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Despite assurances from the White House that good progress is being made with utilities, schools, and governance, it's days like these that make it very difficult to convince the American people that that, in fact, is the case when violence overshadows the progress - Wolf.

BLITZER: To put it mildly, thanks very much Suzanne Malveaux for that report.

Here's your turn to weigh in on our web question. Our web question of the day is this. "Do the latest terror acts in Baghdad increase your resolve to help rebuild Iraq, yes or no"? You can vote right now, cnn.com/wolf. We'll have the results later in this broadcast.

And while you're there, I'd love to hear directly from you. Send me your comments. I'll try to read some of them on the air each day at the end of this program. That's also where you can read my daily online column, cnn.com/wolf.

Catching bin Laden, why the al Qaeda leader is so hard to find, hear from a former CIA operative who was targeted for assassination by the group; plus...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Birth certificates, documents that can't be replaced, that's the most important thing in our children's lives. Everything else can burn so we're just trying to get the important stuff right now not trying to panic. I know it's hard but we're trying.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Families and entire neighborhoods devastated by the raging inferno that is namely Southern California. Our live special coverage continues.

And this, a daring jump, he went over Niagara Falls with nothing but the clothes on is back and he lived. He shares his story with us live this hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: He's been on the hunt for Osama bin Laden, has also been hunted by bin Laden's terror network. The nation's point man for counterterrorism recently sat down with CNN's Mike Boettcher. Mike is joining us now live from the CNN Center in Atlanta - Mike. MIKE BOETTCHER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, after the 9/11 attacks, President Bush turned to the head of the CIA George Tenet to come up with a plan to go after al Qaeda.

Who did George Tenet turn to? Well, he turned to Cofer Black who was then head of his counterterrorism center. Cofer Black is now the State Department's ambassador for counterterrorism and he is still in the thick of it.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BOETTCHER (voice-over): When 9/11 took place, Cofer Black was running the CIA's counterterrorism center. The man whose job it was to go after Osama bin Laden; in fact, he already knew all about al Qaeda. He had been targeted for assassination by the group in 1995 when he was working for the CIA in Sudan.

(on camera): It was reported in Bob Woodward's book "Bush's War" that you told the president that you would bring the head of bin Laden in a box. Why is he so difficult to capture?

COFER BLACK, U.S. COORDINATOR FOR COUNTERTERRORISM: More than two-thirds of the al Qaeda leadership has been arrested, detained, put in jail, one way or the other. They're out of business. We've got more than 3,000, 3,400 of their operatives and support personnel around the world that have been arrested and detained by over 171 countries. But I guarantee you this fellow will get caught like the rest of them.

BOETTCHER: You do believe he's alive?

BLACK: I do believe that he is alive.

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: Ambassador Cofer Black - Cofer.

BOETTCHER (voice-over): A career CIA officer Cofer Black has a new job now. He's the State Department's ambassador in charge of counterterrorism. On his plate issues like Iran and whether its government really intends to turn over the al Qaeda members it says it has in custody.

BLACK: These people have threat information. They have information that can possibly save the lives of innocent men, women, and children somewhere on this planet. We are not confident that the Iranian government in their due process will provide this information to us and other recipients on a timely basis.

BOETTCHER: The war in Iraq has introduced a new dimension, the threat of terror attacks against U.S. soldiers there and it has raised concerns not only about Iran but another Iraqi neighbor, Syria.

(on camera): Can you help sort this out for us where you see Syria's plan right now?

BLACK: Well, we see the reality of individuals crossing the Syrian border that we find objectionable.

BOETTCHER (voice-over): Cofer Black says U.S. anti-terrorism efforts have come a long way since his first run-in with al Qaeda almost a decade ago, especially after 9/11. Now he compares the war on terror to a football game that the U.S. is winning 84-0 but he says that's not enough.

BLACK: Everyone who discounted terrorism is haunted by the fact that all they have to do is kick one field goal and it's a catastrophe. It's a catastrophe for the country and it's a catastrophe for those who do counterterrorism.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BOETTCHER: Why would someone subject themselves to such pressure? Well, Cofer Black says it is his calling, his contribution to his country - Wolf.

BLITZER: Mike Boettcher with a terrific report, Mike thanks very much for that.

Wildfires. They're burning out of control.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Our letters and our annuals and pictures when we were babies.

BLITZER: Residents return home to find nothing left. Our special coverage from the frontlines of the firelines will continue.

Santa Ana winds whipping fuel for this dangerous fire. An update on conditions right now, plus other areas in the United States that could feel the heat next.

Unprecedented plea ignored. Private revelations and now a very public battle between Princess Diana's two sons and her former butler.

Much more. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Is he sorry now? Coming up, I'll go one-on-one with the Niagara Falls jumper about his death-defying stunt.

Also, cities under smoke. An astonishing view of California's ring of fire.

Stay with us.

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BLITZER: Welcome back to CNN.

Ring of fire engulfing Southern California and devastating entire communities. You're looking at live pictures right now. Our special coverage of this story -- it's continuing.

First, though, let's get a quick check of the latest headlines.

(NEWSBREAK)

BLITZER: While Santa Ana winds are fueling the flames of those big wildfires around Los Angeles and San Diego, a lack of rain is a key contributor to their swift spread.

The concern is not limited to Southern California.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): The sheer scope of this disaster overwhelming, even for veteran firefighters.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's the biggest thing I've seen in 26 years.

BLITZER: Images of entire neighborhoods going up in flames. Families, whole communities scrambling to get out.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't know if you know -- I mean, they just did a full evacuation of my neighborhood. I'm the last guy on my entire street right now.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have plenty of time to get out. They came out and evacuated us with plenty of time. But I'm getting the hell out of here. Excuse me.

BLITZER: Perspective from space. This satellite image of the I- 5 corridor in Southern California reveals the extent of smoke plumes over San Diego, Los Angeles, Oxnard and out into the Pacific.

With tens of thousands of homes still in danger, who's next? Which regions of the country should be watching out?

We asked experts from the CNN Weather Center and from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It's a safe bet, if you live almost anywhere in Southern California, you should keep an eye on your nearest ridge line.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Unfortunately, for Southern California and the northern parts too, until they get appreciable rainfall in there, they're going to remain susceptible to the next offshore wind event.

BLITZER: From now until February, it's the Santa Ana wind season, bursts coming from north and east of California, getting drier as they blow southwest towards the Pacific.

Evenings don't guarantee relief. Santa Ana winds can sometimes peak at night.

Elsewhere, the so-called intermountain region covering Utah, eastern Nevada, northern Colorado, parts of western and northern Wyoming, southern Montana and Idaho now in either very dry or drought conditions, vulnerable, but heading into the snow and rain season and out of danger.

Timing is everything.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It would be a lot different case if this were the middle of the summer given the drought conditions that we have out west.

BLITZER: One expert summed up Southern California's seasonal bad luck. "They're the first to get winds, the last to get rain."

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: For more now on the Santa Ana winds or so-called "devil winds" that are fanning the flames in Southern California right now, we turn to CNN meteorologist Rob Marciano.

Rob, give us some background, some perspective on all this.

ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, compared to yesterday, today is a definitely less extreme day. We haven't seen wind gusts to the extreme of yesterday or the day before -- 40, 50 miles an hour. And matter of fact, I've been hard-pressed to find observations that show wind gusts in excess of 25 miles an hour. And most of what I've seen, especially near the metro areas -- the winds also want to turn more onshore, which is what we're looking for to get some higher levels of humidity in the air.

All right. Here are how the Santa Ana winds work. As Wolf mentioned, we're in the beginning of the Santa Ana season, with these winds possible right on through February. We look for warm, dry air to come off the mountains. That compresses the air. Ten to 30 mile an hour winds have been the call today. That is down from yesterday. Low levels of humidity continue. And, at times, the gusts obviously posing a problem.

But as we go through tomorrow, that high's going to try to shift. We'll look for lighter winds and, at times, especially along the coastal regions, we'll look for the winds to become more onshore. And that will cool down just about everybody a little bit tomorrow. But everybody will see drastically cooler temperatures, and, more importantly, higher levels of humidity with a strong onshore wind on Wednesday. And good news there is beginning on Wednesday, the longer term weather patterns bring that same sort of cool and damp air right on through the weekend.

So we've improved things a little bit today, Wolf. We'll improve things farther tomorrow. And as we go through Wednesday and into the weekend, it should certainly hold better for firefighters.

Back to you.

BLITZER: CNN's Rob Marciano, thanks very much. Let's hope that all works out.

A desperate battle against raging wildfires in Southern California. Our special coverage continuing this hour.

Pieces of a puzzle. The trial of suspected D.C.-area sniper John Allan Muhammad -- it resumes. But the focus may surprise you today.

And the man who jumped over Niagara Falls and lived. We'll get to that live.

But first, a quick look at other news making headlines "Around the World."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): Muslims around the world are observing the holy month of Ramadan. Islam's most sacred time of year began yesterday. Muslims are called on to fast from dawn to dusk and abstain from sex. Ramadan commemorates the revelation of the Koran, the sacred book.

Russia's president is urging everyone to stop the hysteria over the country's richest man. The oil companies CEO is charged with fraud, embezzlement and tax evasion. Some business leaders fear the case could jeopardize privatization.

The latest controversial tell-all book about the late Princess Diana is in book stories. The author, her former butler and confident, Paul Burrell. Last week Diana's sons released a scathing statement criticizing him for his "Cold and overt betrayal." Still, the book is selling well, and the publisher says a second printing will be needed.

Some 200 works by Pablo Picasso in a museum in Malaga, Spain where, he was born. The pieces were donated by his family. The king and queen of the Spain were on hand for the opening.

And clowns on parade in Mexico City. It is the culmination of the Brotherhood of Clowns Convention now in its eighth year. About 600 clowns took part, most of them from the U.S. and Center America. And that's our look "Around the World."

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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BLITZER: Welcome back.

Topping our "Justice Report," the trial of the sniper suspect John Allen Muhammad. The second week of testimony is under way after the trial resumed today in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Right now the focus is on the killings that terrorized the Washington area last fall. Earlier today focus -- there was testimony that focus on a couple of the shootings that took place in Louisiana and Alabama. Muhammad is on trial for a shooting death outside a Manassas, Virginia gas station.

In Galveston, Texas, a real estate heir accused of killing a neighbor testified today he was drunk while dismembering the victim. He said he cut up the victim's body in a panic fearing the police would not believe his claim of an accidental shooting. He is on trial for murder. The husband of Terri Schiavo has until Wednesday to challenge a new created law giving the Florida governor the power to order her feeding tube reconnected. State lawmaker named the week old law Terri's law for the severely brain damaged women. Marry -- Michael Schiavo that is has waged a legal battle for years to allow his wife to die.

For the first time in five years, Michael Schiavo will speak out publicly. And you can see it only here on CNN. Schiavo will appear on CNN's "LARRY KING LIVE," 9:00 p.m. Eastern, 6:00 Pacific here on CNN.

Hell on earth. Dead lie wildfires blaze through Southern California. We have got several reporters on the scene.

Caught on tape. The days most dramatic images from the fire lines. First, though, a look at some other stories you may have missed this weekend.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): Starving boys. A New Jersey husband and wife are accused of abusing four boys they adopted by trying to starve them. The boys' ages range from 9 to 19. The oldest weighed only 40 pounds when authorities found him rummaging through a neighbor's trash earlier this month. He's now in a hospital. The other boys were also severely malnourished. State officials are trying to determine why a division of youth and family services case worker who visited the home did not notice the abuse.

Deadly bank heist. The FBI is look fog two Florida men suspected of killing a bank employee in an Atlanta suburb. The two were identified as being from Orlando. The bank employee was shot Friday morning as she arrived to open the bank.

World champs. The best in baseball are back home in south Florida after winning the World Series Saturday night. The Florida Marlins knocked off the Yankees 2-0 in game six.

New York news. The Big Apple's Grand Central Terminal was filled with hundreds of women yesterday all without their clothes on. The photo shoot was part of a project by a New York artist who has done similar shoots in London and other major cities around the world.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Welcome to Fantasy Fest.

Fantasy Fest. Thousands of revelers turned out in Key West, Florida for a big street party. The annual event showcases the town's reputation for off-beat creativity. And that's our "Weekend Snapshot."

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) BLITZER (voice-over): Sometimes wildfires can become so intense they take on tornado-like qualities. What is this called? The answer, firenado. Firenado is an intense tornado-like whirlwind that forms in the plume of heated air rising above a large fire. Tornadoes begins with a thunder head cloud and build downward, but firenadoes start at the ground and build up. This firenado occurred Saturday in Rancho Cucomunga, California. CNN reporter Miguel Marquez and his crew captured it on tape.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: More now on our top story. The wind-whipped wildfires racing across large portions of Southern California.

We have two reports from our affiliates on the scene, beginning in hard-hit San Diego County.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is incredible, the devastation fire can cause. Two homes here side by side, shake shingle roofs. Obviously, and they're gone. You look across to the other side, there's a house on one side that's still standing unmarked, and there is a house right there. Still standing, unmarked. They don't have shake shingles roofs.

If it sounds like I'm beating this horse, I am.

LORA MCLAUGHLIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We've been hearing it all day long from fire officials just how sporadic these fires can be. There is no better example than here on BelParezo (ph) drive in Claremont. You can see behind me, there are a good five or six homes that are completely untouched. If you took a picture of them, you would be hard pressed to find any damage on any of those homes. If there is some, it's very slight. Maybe on a wood deck or a patio.

However, as we pan over here, you can see the situation is much different. This home is completely destroyed. We caught up with some fire officials who came by earlier to work on the hot spots. They told us every house in this Claremont area, dozens and dozens of the homes, had one thing in common. That is the wood shingled roof.

All these homes were built around the '80s. It was a very popular roof to have back then. However, it has equalled -- it has ended up causing a demise of all of these homes. As you can see, there is still some smoldering spots throughout this house. All of the homes have this in common right now. A strike team was up here trying to actually put out the hot spots the best they could. However, when they were here at this house with us, they were called away because they needed to head on down the road to Devore (ph).

The Grand Prix fire that moved through here over the weekend made its way down to Devore (ph) and is causing some big problems over there now. So they left these hot spots, told me they are hoping for the best, that the winds will cooperate and keep them low as they are right now and they will be able to put themselves out. Whatever the situation is, they are needed elsewhere, they tell me, because the situation is just too dangerous.

However, they're telling everyone, if you have these wood roofs, if you haven't made the investment to change them, no matter what the reason is, now is a good time to do it.

The home owner of this house tells me she bought it in 1980. She has been the only owner. She has thought about changing it several times. In fact, she had been evacuated a couple of times before over the years because of brush fires, but was able to make it without any damage. This time she didn't think it would be any different. But in the end, it is the roof that caused her to lose her home.

In Claremont, Lora McLaughlin, for CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Battling the blazes in Southern California. Thousands of firefighters trying to get control right now. Emotional images of the day when we return. And do the latest terror acts in Baghdad increase your resolve to help rebuild Iraq? You can vote right now, cnn.com/wolf.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: We'll show our viewers these live pictures we're getting in courtesy of our affiliate KCBS KCAL out in Southern California. The devastation continues. The wildfires affecting Los Angeles, San Diego, all sorts of areas in between and beyond. This is a devastating fire. Thirteen people killed so far. More than 800 homes have been destroyed. But thousands of others are in jeopardy right now. We'll continue to cover this story for you. And while the firefighters are working and home owners are fleeing, legions of still photographers are chronicling the devastation in Southern California. They provide just a frame but more than a snapshot of the fear, panic and resignation. Sean Callebs now with a selection of the still photos in our "Picture of the Day."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): High drama just off the highway. Overmatched and overburdened firefighters in Ventura County as flames race along the Ronald Reagan Highway. In its wake, charred terrain welcoming motorists. An assault from the air but dry, brittle conditions and unrelenting Santa Ana winds fuel and feed the fires. The California sun, in a futile attempt to poke through the haze and thick smoke.

A garden hose and desperation are the tools against the most damaging fire in a decade, and even for the most experienced sometimes it comes down to a deadly foot race to escape flames that so far chewed through nearly 500 square miles of Southern California real estate. And part of the misfortune, if it wasn't so destructive, so deadly and so tragic, the effect on the evening sky could, at times, be called breathtaking. Sean Callebs, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: What devastation. Here is your chance to weigh in on our Web question of the day. Do the latest terror acts in Baghdad increase your resolve to rebuild Iraq? Look at this, 38 percent of you say yes, 62 percent, yes, 62 percent of you say no. As always, we tell you this, this is not, repeat not, a scientific poll.

Let's get to some of your e-mail. Florence writes this: "It makes me sick to hear stories such as Michael Schiavo, who wants to let his wife, Terri Schiavo, starve to death, not to stop her suffering but to end his own. How totally selfish."

Meanwhile, Danny writes this: "Could we please get back to some sanity here. This case has become all about politics, power, and who can wield the most clout. The next of kin along with medical experts should be making this final decision."

We want to apologize to our viewers. We had planned to bring you a live interview with Kirk Jones this hour, the man who jumped into Niagara Falls. We were not able to bring that to you. We'll try to reschedule the interview. A reminder, you can always catch us, WOLF BLITZER REPORTS, weekdays, 5:00 p.m. Eastern. Also, I'm back, noon Eastern.

Tomorrow, tomorrow, 5:00 p.m., we'll speak with Thomas Friedman of "The New York Times."

Until then, thanks very much for watching.

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Bloody Bombings Rock Baghdad>