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CNN Live At Daybreak

California Wildfires Almost Contained

Aired November 03, 2003 - 05:07   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.


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: On to California now and the wildfires there. They are almost totally contained now. And for people forced out by the fires, the time has come to return to their homes to see what they have left. Nearly 1,000 homes alone were lost when two fires converged in San Bernardino County.
Our Miguel Marquez has more from Big Bear.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm going home.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We are going home now.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is the happy end.

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): After a week of anxiety and uncertainty, tens of thousands of homeowners north of San Bernardino returned home to answer the question -- is there anything left to return to?

DOREEN ROBERTS, RESIDENT: As far as we know, it is standing. But we've heard so many different stories it's hard to say until we get there. So hopefully it is.

MARQUEZ: Tom Moffett is returning to his Big Bear home with a new resolution.

TOM MOFFETT, RESIDENT: And I think that I will volunteer my time to go out and help out in the forests if they need some help cutting down these trees and clearing the brush.

MARQUEZ: In all, about 50,000 of 70,000 evacuees were allowed back into their homes near Big Bear. But hundreds of residents met with insurance adjusters in the rubble, their houses, looking more like an archeological dig than a home.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is where Roslyn (ph) kept all of her jewelry and stuff. So we found several pieces that were easily recognizable.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Communities have all but disappeared.

MARQUEZ: Parishioners at San Diego's St. Gregory's Church marked the week since the Cedar Fire took 55 homes from the congregation.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We suffer loss, as so many of us did this week.

MARQUEZ (on camera): With full containment of the Old and Cedar Fires expected in a week, the best news for southern Californians may be heaven sent -- snow and rain in the forecast.

Miguel Marquez, CNN, Big Bear, California.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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 November 3, 2003 - 05:07   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: On to California now and the wildfires there. They are almost totally contained now. And for people forced out by the fires, the time has come to return to their homes to see what they have left. Nearly 1,000 homes alone were lost when two fires converged in San Bernardino County.
Our Miguel Marquez has more from Big Bear.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm going home.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We are going home now.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is the happy end.

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): After a week of anxiety and uncertainty, tens of thousands of homeowners north of San Bernardino returned home to answer the question -- is there anything left to return to?

DOREEN ROBERTS, RESIDENT: As far as we know, it is standing. But we've heard so many different stories it's hard to say until we get there. So hopefully it is.

MARQUEZ: Tom Moffett is returning to his Big Bear home with a new resolution.

TOM MOFFETT, RESIDENT: And I think that I will volunteer my time to go out and help out in the forests if they need some help cutting down these trees and clearing the brush.

MARQUEZ: In all, about 50,000 of 70,000 evacuees were allowed back into their homes near Big Bear. But hundreds of residents met with insurance adjusters in the rubble, their houses, looking more like an archeological dig than a home.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is where Roslyn (ph) kept all of her jewelry and stuff. So we found several pieces that were easily recognizable.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Communities have all but disappeared.

MARQUEZ: Parishioners at San Diego's St. Gregory's Church marked the week since the Cedar Fire took 55 homes from the congregation.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We suffer loss, as so many of us did this week.

MARQUEZ (on camera): With full containment of the Old and Cedar Fires expected in a week, the best news for southern Californians may be heaven sent -- snow and rain in the forecast.

Miguel Marquez, CNN, Big Bear, California.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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