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American Morning

California Homeowner Finds Hidden Vault After Fire Hits Home

Aired October 31, 2003 - 8:15   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.


SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: California wildfires have destroyed at least 2,600 houses. And one of the most devastating fires near San Bernardino. Very few of the people who fled have been allowed to return to their homes.
But Clifford Clark managed to sneak in to see what was left of his. And Brian Cabell went with him.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIAN CABELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Clifford Clark is searching deep under the floor of what was his living room for this.

CLIFFORD CLARK, HOMEOWNER: Look at that.

CABELL: A hidden vault that he hopes has survived the raging fire here on Sunday morning.

CLARK: There's $4,500.

CABELL (on camera): The money still good?

CLARK: I don't know.

CABELL (voice-over): The currency is singed, but strangely this 75-year-old retired businessman, who's lived in and loved these mountains for most of his life, seems not to care. His 30-year-old house is destroyed, so were his prized racecar and his grandchildren's bikes.

(on camera): Let me ask you this, Mr. Clark. You seem to have taken all of this very philosophically. It's like hey, if it was meant to be, it was meant to be.

CLARK: That's the way -- I'm a realist. I am a real realist. I'm upset, but I'm not going to wimpy cry about it. In other words, my dad and my mom brought me up to be a man.

CABELL (voice-over): He prides himself on being practical, strong, unspiritual. When the fire raced down the mountain five days ago, he and his wife packed up their grand kids, grabbed a few things, and drove off. He came back to this: the foundation of his home, covered by rubble.

(on camera): Did you build it?

CLARK: Yes, every bit of it. It took me 19 months. I designed the house.

CABELL (voice-over): There's that pride again. And not an ounce of self-pity. He's wracked by pain in his knees and ankles, and now he's homeless. But he has insurance, and his pickup. Clifford Clark will be back.

Brian Cabell, CNN, Waterman Canyon, California.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

O'BRIEN: Governor Gray Davis said on Thursday that if favorable weather conditions persist, the fires could be largely contained in about a week.




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Aired October 31, 2003 - 8:15   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: California wildfires have destroyed at least 2,600 houses. And one of the most devastating fires near San Bernardino. Very few of the people who fled have been allowed to return to their homes.
But Clifford Clark managed to sneak in to see what was left of his. And Brian Cabell went with him.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIAN CABELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Clifford Clark is searching deep under the floor of what was his living room for this.

CLIFFORD CLARK, HOMEOWNER: Look at that.

CABELL: A hidden vault that he hopes has survived the raging fire here on Sunday morning.

CLARK: There's $4,500.

CABELL (on camera): The money still good?

CLARK: I don't know.

CABELL (voice-over): The currency is singed, but strangely this 75-year-old retired businessman, who's lived in and loved these mountains for most of his life, seems not to care. His 30-year-old house is destroyed, so were his prized racecar and his grandchildren's bikes.

(on camera): Let me ask you this, Mr. Clark. You seem to have taken all of this very philosophically. It's like hey, if it was meant to be, it was meant to be.

CLARK: That's the way -- I'm a realist. I am a real realist. I'm upset, but I'm not going to wimpy cry about it. In other words, my dad and my mom brought me up to be a man.

CABELL (voice-over): He prides himself on being practical, strong, unspiritual. When the fire raced down the mountain five days ago, he and his wife packed up their grand kids, grabbed a few things, and drove off. He came back to this: the foundation of his home, covered by rubble.

(on camera): Did you build it?

CLARK: Yes, every bit of it. It took me 19 months. I designed the house.

CABELL (voice-over): There's that pride again. And not an ounce of self-pity. He's wracked by pain in his knees and ankles, and now he's homeless. But he has insurance, and his pickup. Clifford Clark will be back.

Brian Cabell, CNN, Waterman Canyon, California.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

O'BRIEN: Governor Gray Davis said on Thursday that if favorable weather conditions persist, the fires could be largely contained in about a week.




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