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California Wildfires: Areas at Risk; President Bush to Visit Fire Zone Tomorrow; Governor Schwarzenegger Holds News Conference on Wildfires

Aired October 24, 2007 - 14:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. I'm Don Lemon, live at the CNN world headquarters in Atlanta.
Our breaking news coverage of the California wildfires continues this hour.

Almost a million people have now been forced out of their homes. Many with little or no warning. Now they can only sit and worry, will their homes survive or will they join a growing number of suddenly homeless?

Kyra Phillips has returned to her hometown of San Diego to get the personal side of the story for us -- Kyra.

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: And Don, I was telling you just within the past couple of hours I think when it really hit me when was we were coming in for a landing at Lindbergh Field and I was looking outside the window of the aircraft and I could see the wildfires spreading across San Diego, and I was seeing actual places where I went to Girl Scout camp, where I used to go canoeing with my parents, places where we would camp with church. And I thought, my gosh, this is where I grew up. This was such a special part of my life, and now I'm just seeing it on fire.

And now here I am at Qualcomm Stadium -- it used to be Jack Murphy Stadium when I was growing up -- and this is where I saw all the sports games. I saw the Padres play. I was a junior Padre. I used to come and see the Chargers play. Even my first concert was here at the stadium.

And now it's just been turned into this massive shelter. And it's unbelievable how organized it is.

I've told you about this. This is night and day from Katrina. And I've got to hand it off to local leadership, because it was from the local end on down.

And now you're seeing volunteers from all parts of San Diego in the professional fields, from the churches, even from the local stores, coming over here and just handing things over. Anything you need, Don, you can get here. You can get clothes, food, water.

I was even telling you about, you can sit down for an AA meeting, you can have acupuncture, you can have meditation and yoga, and there's an entire area even for the children so they are completely distracted. Their parents are concerned about their homes, over here filling out insurance forms, and the kids are painting and hanging murals and hanging up along the stadium walls.

So it's been really encouraging to come home and just see all the positive effort going forward to make life a little easier for folks that are having a hard time. And I am happy to say that my parents are OK. Our home is OK. And that my dad is here volunteering, and we're actually going to talk about more -- more about that coming up at the half hour.

He's been translating for the Hispanic community. And that's a whole other part of this story that we haven't talked about yet.

There are so many Spanish speakers in the city that haven't known what is going on because they haven't been able to tune in and find out the information in Spanish. So the local stations have started giving updates in Spanish. We've been meeting with some of the families here. And you'll meet one of them and my dad, and talk about those volunteer efforts to make things just a little easier for folks as they try to get information.

LEMON: All right, Kyra. And we can't wait for that.

And also, you're at Qualcomm Stadium. We want to remind our viewers or tell our viewers that expecting a press conference to happen there very shortly with California Senator Barbara Boxer, also with the mayor of San Diego, Jerry Sanders, Representative Susan Davis from San Diego, and Representative Bob Filner.

All will hold a press conference at Qualcomm Stadium. As soon as that happens we'll bring it to you right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

Want to give you the very latest now.

More than 434,000 acres burned, and that number is growing by the hour. Almost 1,500 homes are destroyed. Almost one million people out of their homes, not knowing what they will go back to or when.

But there is some good news in all of this. Changing Santa Ana winds are helping firefighters.

They've nearly contained three major L.A. County fires and reopened some San Diego County neighborhoods. They've also been able to light backfires for the first time to burn away brush and keep the main fires from spreading.

President Bush visits the fire zone tomorrow. Today, he signed a federal disaster declaration to help scores of fire victims cover their losses. Property damage in San Diego County alone will likely top -- get this -- $1 billion.

Let's talk about the Harris Fire now. Unlike all the others, it is a killer, burning in San Diego County. It's blamed for the single death reported so far in southern California.

Let's go straight to CNN's Sean Callebs. He is in Spring Valley for us -- Sean.

SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Don, it's been a very hot one here today. You're right, the sole death that is attributed right now to this fire of course here in this area.

I want to bring the guy in who's really been heading up everything here in this area, Captain Scott McLean (ph).

Captain, if I could have you step over just one second here, tell me what you can about this fire. We talked earlier that it's looking positive. That was last hour. And you said that can be deceiving, it can change in a minute. But you're still thinking it's looking good.

How do you caution that? And how do you build on this optimism?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's what Mother Nature dictates to us, what she wants us to do. We're on the receiving end.

As we know, as the day getting warmer the air will start rising. That will cause our updraft winds up the canyons and the (INAUDIBLE) across here. Those draws in turn start eddy effect on the winds and whatnot, which can change the directions of the winds at any given time.

We cannot predict that. We can only estimate and go accordingly.

CALLEBS: And to give folks an idea of part of the problem, the ocean is that way. The canyon goes up this way. So you're seeing winds, kind of a confluence. Has that been fanning the fire over the past few days?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Definitely. During the middle of the night the fire has been going across our lines that we've got set up.

CALLEBS: What about today? Let me ask you to look into the crystal ball. Tell me how you think it's going to hold up.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The heat is here today. It's warmer today than it has been. The humidities are extremely low still.

I don't know what the humidities were last night, but they were up a little bit. But for the most part, the fire has not had the humidity higher than nine percent.

CALLEBS: And it needs to be humid to give you guys a break?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You need the moisture in the air to slow the fire activity down.

LEMON: We're apparently having some problems with Sean Callebs there.

Sean, we appreciate that report. You and also the gentleman with you.

(WEATHER REPORT) LEMON: President Bush is getting ready to visit the fire zone. He's heading there tomorrow, and this morning he signed a federal disaster declaration for the region.

CNN's Elaine Quijano joins us now from the White House with the very latest on that.

Hi, Elaine.

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Don.

Well, in the briefing last hour here at the White House, we learned a little bit more about the president's trip to southern California tomorrow. The president will be taking an aerial tour, we understand, via helicopter of some of the affected areas. And he's also due to get a briefing on the ground, we presume, from local, state and federal officials.

Now, this morning, the president took part in a video teleconference affected areas he's also due to get a briefing on the ground from local, state and federal officials. Now this morning, the president took part in a video teleconference with top administration officials in California, and among those joining the president here in Washington were Vice President Dick Cheney, as well as the interior secretary, Dirk Kempthorne.

Now, the Bush administration, of course, was severely criticized in the wake of Hurricane Katrina for the federal government's slow response then, so this time around the White House wants to send a very different message that the government is in touch and is responding to the needs of people in California. In fact, that was President Bush's message earlier today after a meeting with members of his cabinet.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: But most importantly, I want the people in southern California to know that Americans all across this land care deeply about them. We're concerned about their safety. We're concerned about their property. And we offer our prayers and hopes that all will turn out fine in the end.

In the meantime, they can rest assured the federal government will do everything we can to help put out these fires.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUIJANO: Now, you mentioned the president today signed a disaster declaration. That, of course, on top of the emergency declaration already sent out.

What's the difference between the two? Well, think of an emergency declaration as something that helps with these sort of immediate needs when it comes to evacuation needs and response efforts, as well. And in the long term, a disaster declaration is what is needed to help get those federal funds flowing -- Don.

LEMON: All right. CNN's Elaine Quijano at the White House.

Thank you very much for that update.

Shock, grief, loss. We'll talk with a San Diego psychologist who is already getting calls from his patients.

Also, high rent and high risk. Some of Hollywood's biggest names forced to flee their pricey homes.

Plus, you're our eyes and ears on the ground. We'll take a look at some of your I-Reports.

You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: To Los Alamedas (ph), California, now and the Governor's Office of Emergency Services and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

GOV. ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER (R), CALIFORNIA: ... the ones with the best experience, the most experience. And they have been, you know, ready for these kind of fires. And you know, they are really extraordinary and I'm very proud of them because they are working 24 hours a day around the clock.

And when I say 24 hours around the clock, I mean the day only has 24 hours, but, in fact, many of them have actually worked 36 hours and 48 hours without stopping. I mean, it's really remarkable the kind of dedication.

And they are so selfless. I mean, they put themselves in harm's way in order to save property and lives, and put themselves in tremendous risks all the time.

So we want to say thank you to them.

Now, from the 2003 fire we have learned a lot. One of the things we learned was that we always had a lack of resources. So we made agreements with various different states, with neighboring states, and I tell you that those states really came forward and they have offered us all the help in the world.

As a matter of fact, we want to thank Nevada, Arizona, Oregon, Colorado, Washington State, Wyoming, North Carolina, New Mexico. All of them -- and New York State, also, for the great big help and assistance.

There's a lot of resources coming from those states and manpower. So we want to thank them also.

We are opening today one-stop shops that will be very important. This is -- the Office of Emergency Services is working very closely with the local officials to open the local assistance centers. And we want to make sure that the people have the services that they need, replace records that are lost in a fire, or fire insurance claims, apply for assistance or for housing. All of those kind of things, there will be one-stop shops that will be available.

Those shops will be opened up in -- as a matter of fact, tomorrow. Thursday (INAUDIBLE) San Diego and Ramona. And then Friday in Fallbrook and in San Marcos, and also in Los Angeles.

So I think this will be very helpful. And they were very, very helpful also in 2003 during the 2003 fire.

I also want to thank President Bush. We have requested an emergency declaration for California and they came through right away. And then we asked them, you know, to declare California as a major disaster area, and also just an hour ago we were granted that request.

And then he's personally coming out here tomorrow morning and we will be flying around with him and showing him some of the areas that have been devastated. Also, Secretary Chertoff was with us yesterday.

So I think that we see here a great coordination within the state and the federal government, and also the locals. Unlike previous disasters like that, there has been an immediate response amongst all of those agencies and a great working relationship.

So I really want to thank all of them for this great, great work.

I also want to thank law enforcement, and every step of the way they have been there. I think that law enforcement is extremely important, especially when it comes to evacuations due to health. And I want to thank them also.

I want to thank the National Guard for their great help, and General Wade is traveling around with me and has always being ready for action when I need him and when I need the National Guard to be there. And I want to thank them also.

So everything has been so far going really well. And there is, of course, always places where we need more resources. And we are working on that. But the key thing is that we all work together.

So with that, I want to now hand the mike over to Lieutenant Governor Garamendi to say a few words. And I want to thank Lieutenant Governor Garamendi for coming down here and traveling around with us.

Thank you very much.

LT. GOV. JOHN GARAMENDI, CALIFORNIA: Governor, thank you.

SCHWARZENEGGER: Thank you.

(APPLAUSE)

GARAMENDI: Governor, from the people of California that I've observed over the last three days, they appreciate your leadership, the leadership that you provided in many different ways. First and most important, making sure that there was coordination available, the mutual aid programs through the Office of Emergency Services.

And I've been around for a long time, some 30 years now. And I've watched fires over those periods. Some of the most devastating fires in California's history -- Oakland, Malibu fires, Laguna, of course the 2003 fires.

This particular effort is unprecedented. Never before has California been faced with such a difficult, complex and devastating fire situation as we have seen today, 22 fires, perhaps more than that if you were to add up all the little ones.

It took an incredibly effective and efficient organization in place prior to those fires breaking out. And your administration, with the help of the legislature, going over the last four years now trying to provide the money that the blue ribbon commission has asked for and the coordination, and then following through on it, it's been done. Not without loss, not without some trauma, and not without some shortcomings, but it is an extraordinary improvement and has worked.

It really has worked. All of the elements are in place.

Yesterday, as I was traveling in the Santa Clarita area, I noticed from my hometown in Calaveras County four units. Among those units was a local fire -- local volunteer fire agency that had come down here to help out.

Also, a federal forest service unit from the Groveland area. And, of course, from the state Office of Emergency Services there at yellow machines (ph).

The only way we can meet these disasters and the only way that we can successfully handle them is with a mutual aid organization that is now in place and is operating efficiently and effectively. We look forward to the federal government's assistance coming in with money, and we're certainly going to need that.

We also know that we're faced with the fact that we've lost 1,600 homes and businesses, and probably there will be more before this is all over. And so the rebuilding effort is going to be extremely important.

Those mechanisms have also been put in place, with the insurance industry playing its appropriate role and the state watching carefully that they do so. And there's going to be the necessity of meeting the needs of revegetation and dealing with what we hope will be a rainy season and the potential for floods coming from that.

So, Governor, congratulations to you. A job very, very well done by you and all of your administration.

SCHWARZENEGGER: Thank you very much. Thank you.

(APPLAUSE)

GARAMENDI: The governor reminded me that I have an additional job, and it's right here. I should look at it.

Among the resources that are deployed are the resources of the National Guard, a unit -- an organization that's been heavily called upon for the last three years both here in the United States, as well as overseas. The leader of that organization, General William Wade.

(APPLAUSE)

GEN. WILLIAM WADE, NATIONAL GUARD: Thank you.

Good morning.

I guess the facts that I could tell you is that we currently have 1,600 members of the California National Guard on duty. Those are soldiers and airmen. And we're ordering another 500 into the armories in anticipation of getting increased missions.

As the governor said, we've gotten great support from the other states. The Emergency Management Assistance Compact is working for us. We can call on the other 49 states and four territories for anything that we need.

I'm in contact with Northern Command, with our north, and with the guard bureau back in Washington, D.C. And they have pledged any support possible that we can need. And we are now getting that in as we require it.

I believe the governor made the right decision when this first started, and he made the decision to take the soldiers off the border on Jump Start for an immediate reaction. That's what he told the president and Secretary Chertoff he would do in the event of a natural disaster of this nature in California. And that's just what he did.

And we had them deployed within just hours to where they were needed. Now that we've gotten other soldiers and airmen backing them up, we are returning them to the border so that we can continue our Operation Jump Start mission.

Your Guard is strong. We are using the experience of sending 26,000 soldiers and airmen from California around the world and the global war on terrorism. Now they are bringing those skills and their ability to react rapidly home with them. And that's why you see them out there on the front lines supporting the firefighters, law enforcement and all of our civilian authorities.

Thank you.

And it's my pleasure to introduce the one gentleman I think who is really leading this charge for the state, and that is Ruben Grijalva.

(APPLAUSE)

RUBEN GRIJALVA, DIRECTOR, CAL FIRE: Thank you, General.

Good morning. I am the director for CAL FIRE. And today is a transition day for us.

These past three days we've been faced with sustained wind speeds of 30 to 60 miles an hour, with gusts from 85 to 100 miles an hour. Combined with the kinds of fuel conditions that we're faced with this year, that has resulted in the complex of fires that you see that we have been battling for these past three days.

I'd like to talk about the cooperation, the coordination that actually happens when a fire occurs.

We have fires burning in local government area responsibilities and state responsibility areas and in federal responsibility areas. The one thing that's great about the fire service in California is we disregard those boundaries and we work together and we train together and we fight fire together.

But initially what happens is when a fire breaks out, typically local government responds to the initial (INAUDIBLE) agency, and they are in command of the fire. As that fire grows and additional resources come into play, state agencies such as CAL FIRE, Office of Emergency Services, National Guard, California Highway Patrol all join in and we join in what is called unified command. So decisions are made together.

There are briefings that occur all day long, evaluation, an assessment of the fire and the threats. And together we make decisions on how to deploy resources on that single incident.

When you have a magnitude scale of disasters we're facing, you have multiple of those occurring throughout the states. And we may have five incident command teams operating in joint unified command in each one of those fires.

When they grow to this magnitude, we go into what is called area command, so there is oversight of all the different operations that are going on. Every evening one of the common questions I get asked is, how you decide where resource go when resources become limited? We put together a standing group that's been there for a number of years now called the Multiagency Coordination Group.

LEMON: That's the director of CAL FIR there talking about -- this is very important. He said this was a transition day for them, saying that today the winds had calmed down, so they actually started getting a handle on the fires.

The governor making a really important announcement as well, saying they are going to start opening these one-stop shops for assistance when it comes to everything for filing claims for insurance, anything that you might need. The folks there who are in need can go to these places. That is starting tomorrow in several different cities, and then will continue until they get everyone there taken care of.

Also thanked the president for the emergency money that he is giving the firefighters there, thanking them, as well, and also the National Guard.

So they are holding that press briefing now. If any more news comes out of that we'll bring it to you.

Also, we're awaiting a press conference at Qualcomm to happen from some of the political leaders there. The senator from California, Barbara Boxer, and also some representatives, as well.

As we look at these live pictures here from Santiago Canyon, courtesy of our affiliate KTLA, you can see that the winds are calming down but the fires are still going here.

Fear, shock, loss, sometimes it helps to put it all down in writing. We'll share one I-Reporter's story as he watches his world go up in flames. That's straight ahead in the NEWSROOM.

And CNN's Ted Rowlands live from the fire lines, where he just sent in some amazing video. You don't want to miss that.

We're back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Well, the winds are changing and the fight against the wildfires is taking a new direction, at least for now.

Let's go straight to Running Springs, near Lake Arrowhead, California, and CNN's Ted Rowlands. He's there with the very latest for us.

Hi, Ted.

TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Don.

You can see behind me the devastation this fire has left behind. There are actually two fires in this region in Lake Arrowhead, and this is pretty much what people are going to come back to in the affected area. There are 500 plus homes, completely leveled by the two fires. This is mountainous terrain. This has been the site of one of the most treacherous fire fights for the last few days.

Last night we got some incredible video of that continuing fight. Photographer Tom Larson went out on the frontlines with firefighters as they tried to save homes. You feel the appreciation of what these firefighters have been up against for the last couple days when you look at the pictures and you hear the stories from the firefighters. They are going at it 24 hours a day trying to save as many homes as possible.

Unfortunately, there's a lot of scenes that end up like the one that we're standing at today, here, where the homes are devastated. But a lot of the other -- there are homes here that have been saved and saved because of the efforts of these firefighters.

Now there are still 10,000 people who are still evacuated from the Lake Arrowhead area. As we said, 500 homes are gone and still more homes that are threatened. The winds have died down considerably and so that is providing the opportunity for an air assault up here in the mountainous region. An opportunity that they haven't had over the past few days, a welcome opportunity.

There are problems though, still, however, because of the amount of smoke and the amount of flames still up here. They are urging people to stay back. They cordoned off this entire area. And people want to come back to see if their homes are standing or not. You can understand that. They have been away from the homes. They just want to see. They want to get in.

But if you just look at things like this, downed power lines everywhere up here. It's just not safe for people to be coming back up here. That's why authorities are urging them to stay away even though, in some areas, the imminent danger from fire may have gone away there's still a couple days before they can let the people back in.

But, Don, the fight continues up here and in San Diego County. Mother Nature helping out at least on front lines thus far today.

LEMON: Ted, you're really close there. That is still smoldering behind you, isn't it?

ROWLANDS: You can see the fire when we were driving in was over the hill. We can't really see from it here. This is an area that just the fire ripped through, and you can see it. There are still small fires all around us but because the wind is now basically nonexistent, it really isn't a threat as long as you're not in brush.

If we were here yesterday, in this same scenario -- well, we wouldn't be here because the winds were whipping so intensely. They could just take these embers, take these fires and throw them without that in play it really has changed things dramatically giving the firefighters the upper hand. And that's why they are hoping to take advantage of it today, and really knock this thing down.

LEMON: And, Ted, just the chimney standing there, but on the other side of that chimney, right over the left shoulder, is that a structure still standing, not even touched? Left side?

ROWLANDS: Yeah, right here. This is some sort of a warehouse that obviously was protected for one reason or another. There is another home on the other side, that's very difficult to see, that seems as though it hasn't been damaged considerably. So you see this all the time. Hit and miss. That's why people who have been evacuated, they've heard that their neighborhoods are gone, but they're still holding out hope because a lot of times there are homes and structures still standing.

LEMON: Absolutely. It's very random. We were talking about that with our meteorologists as well.

Hey, Ted, thank you so much for that report.

We can tell you the facts and figures in all of this. And we can show you the pictures but the real stories are really the personal ones. That's what our I-Reporters, like Doctor Jonathan Gallen, they are really coming through for us. And he joins us now.

We want to thank you for joining us. Doctor Gallen, one of those homes was yours. Homes all around your neighborhood, all around you. Your neighbor's homes destroyed, or damaged and yours wasn't.

DR. JONATHAN GALLEN, I-REPORTER: It's very eerie thing. It's -- all I can say is an act of luck, bad luck, or God intervention. I have no idea why. There were trees above our house that were singed. You can see at our front door there was actually the brown soot-like impression almost like the fire was trying to probe our house, very eerie.

LEMON: Yeah, we could see. You took pictures of that. This is the first picture we have, Doctor Gallen, was of your pool, right? It's good that your pool and home survived, but this is what people are breathing in there. Once they get back to their homes and your home, you're going to have to do some major scrubbing and major cleaning to get that out of your walls and also your air conditioning system, as well.

GALLEN: What was interesting, On Sunday, I was outside just doing landscaping, what you do on a Sunday afternoon. I started to get the smell, the scent of burning leaves like I was back East, growing up. And I thought, who would possibly be burning leaves on a Sunday afternoon with zero percent humidity and 50 miles an hour gusts. I went inside to watch the Red Sox game. My family are diehard Red Sox fans, and then FOX News broke. And we said, ah, never happened to us; it's 20 miles away, but overnight everything changed.

LEMON: Everything changed. You know what, Doctor Gallen. Said you were talking about the smell. You want to read what you wrote something, an essay for CNN.com and you were talking about the smoke.

You said: "The fire stinks. It's pervasive and it gets on you, on your clothes, in your nose and in your head. Black death and destruction.

GALLEN: I'm sorry can't hear you.

LEMON: That's OK. Our viewers can hear it. "So final and so dark the blackened remnants of what you worked so hard to build, gone in a minutes, consumed by such a force of nature that words cease to provide a way to describe it."

You talked about all of that, you are a cancer survivor, as well.

GALLEN: I think I heard you talk about -- essay.

LEMON: Your essay, yeah, I want to talk about --

(CROSS TALK)

GALLEN: I actually sent a letter to my family letting them know how we were and what we had to endure. Sharing the plight, that hundreds of thousands of people have been sharing, but I wanted to make it a little more personal. He ended up sending it on to CNN and from there I decided to write them a second follow-up story and that was a much more personal story because we were gone from our house, from our neighborhood.

(CROSS TALK)

LEMON: Dr. Gallen we want to thank you for joining us today. We're glad that your home is OK. And we wish you continued luck, as well. And again, thank you very much.

People in the danger zone are being told not to use their cell phones unless it's an emergency. This is some parents outside of the area worried because they haven't talked to their kids. Our Reynolds Wolf is watching all of this for you.

What have you found out, Reynolds?

REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We found out this is a little bit of the real story, from the men and women, the families that are dealing with this first hand. We got some e-mails that have been flooding into CNN center. We're going to start off with one from Dawn.

Dawn (ph) writes that she is a native Californian and a Native American Indian. And she lives on a reservation where 50 homes have been destroyed by the fire. She is hoping that the community will be able to rebuild the reservation and hopefully come together, as united, as one.

Some other e-mails we have. This one is from Jerry (ph) not necessarily from Southern California. These e-mails have been coming from all over the world, all over the states. This one from Miami, Oklahoma, she writes, "Is there any way to find out addresses of the homes and apartments lost in the Ramona area. We are all worried about my two stepchildren and their mother. I know you can find out in San Diego, but she can't seem to find out where to get that same information for Ramona, California."

A few others we have for you. This one is from Alicia (ph). Alicia writes, "My family lives off Gurd (ph) Road, in Fall Brook (ph) and has been evacuated and is staying with friends in Carlsbad. They are doing just fine. So that's some great news.

We also have some good news from Shasta. Shasta writes in, from -- let's see, she says the Hoskins family has now evacuated and is now with grandma and grandpa. And everyone is OK. That is certainly some good news.

Don, you know, we get these e-mails, we see some of these images, but it is the first-hand images that you have from the I-Reporters, the contributors, that really tell the story. Take a look at this. This video from Rick Walker. This is of Rick driving northward on Highway 101. Look at that sky. See can see, just the gold everywhere. A little bit of sunlight coming through. Then you see it filtering through all the smoke, all the particles that are in the air, as the wind continues to blow from the canyons, pushing all that heat, pushing all that dirt, pushing all that dust, ash. It is almost nightmarish in a few locations as it continues. If we had time, if you went down I'm sure you could see more of the flames begin to pick up. And we're going to show you more I- Reports throughout the rest of the day.

Also, something else to think of, folks, if you have any great pictures or video, like those we just showed you, but all means just send them to us. Don't put yourself in harm's way. We would love to share them with your neighbors, and everyone across the planet.

Also if you just have a simple message. Maybe something just plain. Don't have to have the ability to win Pulitzer here. Write and let your family know that you're doing OK. If you send it to us we'll send it out to everyone to pass along the good word.

Also we have some new information that's going to be coming up during our next update, Don. That is about price gouging, another price gouging story that's going to be up in roughly 30 minutes or so. Let's send it back to you.

LEMON: Hey, Reynolds, I don't want to embarrass you. You're a very good meteorologist, right?

WOLF: I try.

LEMON: But I like you back there at the Impact Desk. You want a new job? If I was the boss I would hire you to be our Impact Your World anchor.

WOLF: You know, I'm thinking -- look, I'm a juggler. I can do both. I love the weather. I love this. Hopefully, we can work something out where we can make everybody happy.

LEMON: Multi-tasking, you're multi-faceted. Reynolds Wolf, thank you very much.

WOLF: Talk to you soon, man.

LEMON: We want to leave you now, or at least, go to break with some live pictures. That's in Santiago Canyon, California. Courtesy of our affiliate, KTLN. You can see there are the choppers. Carrying the water. You're talking about carrying the water. They are carrying the water for hundreds of thousands of people there. We're going to have an update there. Also awaiting a press conference from some officials at Qualcomm Stadium.

The news keeps coming. We'll keep bringing it to you. You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: I'm Kyra Phillips back here live in San Diego at Qualcomm Stadium. Back here in my hometown trying to bring all of you a little bit of a personal angle as to how this story is not only affecting a lot of us at CNN, like me, who grew up in the area but so many people throughout Southern California; hundreds of thousands of people having to be evacuated. Thousands of people not sure when they are going to have a chance to go home and what they are going back to.

Here at Qualcomm Stadium there's about 15,000 people that have been displaced and they are counting on this to be their home at this time. A lot of people, a lot of different languages. A lot of different cultures. We have Spanish speakers, the deaf community, we have other small communities from across the globe that have come here to San Diego to live and to work.

So the question is, how did everybody find out about Qualcomm Stadium as a place to come to? How did everybody find out about what the mayor was saying, what the governor was saying with regard to evacuations and the danger of those wildfires. Well it comes down to people specifically in the deaf community, like Jamie Jaramilo, and I'm going to introduce you to her in a moment. She's an interpreter here in the deaf community. And I grew up right next to San Diego State University, which is not far from the stadium here. My mother was a teacher for the deaf at the university, so I grew up within the deaf community.

So, of course, when goat here I wanted to find out what is being done to reach deaf families, to tell them about the dangers of the wildfires. And that's how I came across my next two guests. Jamie is actually going to be interpreting for us. We're going to meet Carlos Cubilette, who knew that there was a problem when fire fighters showed up at his door, but there was an issue with communication. Carlos tell us what happened.

CARLOS CUBILETTE, EVACUEE (through translator): Well, what happened was I was in my home and the fires had already begun. And a firefighter came to my home. He knocked on my front door. And he told me it was time to evacuate the area and we need to do it as soon as possible. It was dangerous and the fire was very near.

So, we did evacuate. We felt safe and we drove here to Qualcomm Stadium, and we knew there was excellent interpreting services provided for deaf community service. Also a ton of information here, FEMA is here, food is being provided and everything is very wonderful. So, we feel very safe.

PHILLIPS: You were a bit confused because you didn't understand what the firefighter was saying, right? You knew something was wrong.

CUBILETTE (through translator): I didn't understand. Yeah, I knew that something was wrong and I knew that there were fire near my home, but I just felt worried and I was scared and I thought it would be best to leave than to remain in my home. So, I was playing it safe.

PHILLIPS: And Jamie, to you, I have heard stories like this time and time again growing up with my mom being a teacher for the deaf and growing up with people like you, Carlos; and that translation it's a tough thing especially in situations like this when there is danger that is presented to you, I know you depend on the interpreters in the news conferences. We have seen it from time to time with the governor and mayor. I know you finally did see something on television. So what is your message to deaf people who may not -- who are watching this right now? CUBILETTE (through translator): I'd like members of the deaf community to know that they don't have to feel scared. To please come down to Qualcomm Stadium. There are services being provided. There are interpreters, there is information, that can be found. There are many things that we can help with here. It's never too late.

Please, all of San Diego, the deaf community is welcome here. So please come and we are willing to help all -- everybody. And please don't stay home and don't be scared. Just come on out, and if you can, and we'll be here to help.

PHILLIPS: What's amazing, too, you're not only an evacuee but you're trying to help deaf people find resources. How do you do both, Carlos? Why are you doing both?

CUBILLETTE (through translator): Well, I just feel like I like to help. I want to help those who are deaf, and I know that there's no one out there for the deaf. And so there's no communication and I know DCS gives good interpreting services. And so, I want them to continue to find the help they need and we are happy to help, so playing it safe.

PHILLIPS: And, Jamie, my mom has taught people like you to become interpreters. You know how important it is to have an interpreter for the deaf community in situations like this. Tell me, tell our viewers why this has been such an important interview to do?

JAMIE JARAMILO, SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETER: I think it's important the deaf community knows that DCS has a table set up here, and provides interpreting services for any deaf needs. If there's deaf in the community that needs help, the services are here for them.

PHILLIPS: I know, I want you to give phone number, as well, if you don't mind, Jamie.

JARAMILO: The phone number for deaf community services is 619- 398-2488. And again that number is 619-398-2488. Please call. For coming here safely.

PHILLIPS: Thank you very much. Very much, Carlos, Jamie. Don just another angle to my unique family growing up here in San Diego.

LEMON: You have quite a unique family we always talk about that.

PHILLIPS: Well it was great to show up here and see students that my mom has actually taught and unfortunately she didn't teach Jamie. Jamie is an amazing interpreter, I wish that my mom would have had her as a student. But it's great to see they are out here and they are helping and Carlos is amazing, too. He's trying to help the deaf community as well as -- you know, he's concerned about his home, and what is going to happen there. He had to flee two days ago.

So we just want to get the message out that owl resources are here whether you're in the deaf community, whether are a Spanish speaker -- and we'll be able to talk to my dad coming up in the next hour. He's doing translation for the Spanish speaking community. And also other resources, medical resources, insurance resources, food, water, clothes, you name it. It is here. And that's probably the best message that I can bring you in such a devastating time for Southern California folks, right now.

LEMON: It just speaks to the organization there, from the leaders and everything that you mentioned. Kyra Phillips, thank you. We're going to check back in with you in a little bit.

PHILLIPS: Thanks, Don.

LEMON: Also, Kyra is at Qualcomm Stadium. We want to tell our viewers, we're awaiting a press conference. There's a microphone, at Qualcomm Stadium live. It will be Senator Barbara Boxer, Representative Bob Filner, Jerry Sanders, the mayor of San Diego, Susan Davis, also a representative from San Diego. We'll bring that to right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

Hi, A.J. Hammer.

A.J. HAMMER, CNN ANCHOR, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT: Hello, there, Don Lemon.

Well, as the wildfires continue to rage, there's an obvious impact on Hollywood, but there are those in the entertainment industry doing whatever they can to help out. I'll fill you in on that when the NEWSROOM continues next.

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LEMON: As we look at the live pictures over Santiago Canyon, California. courtesy of our affiliate, KABC, we want to tell you about another way for folks to get help there in Southern California.

FEMA Web site, FEMA has opened its on line registration for people there who need to apply for disaster relief. Sit www.fema.gov. Here's the phone number for you: 1-800-621-FEMA, 1-800-621-3362. So you can now go on line and go to fema.gov. You can apply for federal disaster assistance on line, or you can call that phone number.

Fires burning all over Southern California have directly affected the lives of hundreds of thousands of people, including many in the entertainment community. "Showbiz Tonight's" A.J. Hammer joins me now with the very latest on those affected and what some are doing to help.

Hi, A.J.

HAMMER: Hi, there, Don. Let me throw some names at you, Sean Penn, Mel Gibson, Jennifer Aniston, those are just a couple of them. In any other situation, obviously, that would read like the cast of an A-list Hollywood movie. But today those are the names of just a few of the stars who, really are not one no different than anyone else who is being forced to deal first hand with the California wildfires.

The Malibu fire that began early Sunday morning scorched land belonging to Oscar-winner Sean Penn and took out a couple of uninhabited trailers on his property. By Monday, the same blaze forced evacuations all over the affluent beach community including homes belonging to Kelsey Grammer, Victoria Principal, Mel Gibson, among others. Country singer Tanya Tucker and Olivia Newton-John, also in danger. Courtney Cox Arquette, and her husband David Arquette, reportedly had their home spared. That, thanks to local firefighters who fought to keep the blaze away.

"Titanic" director James Cameron, super model, Cindy Crawford, and actor Mark Hamill, all own homes that are said to be in danger.

Now for Suzanne Somers these fires are a reminder of a tragedy that's all too fresh. The star's mansion was torched just nine months ago in another Malibu fire. Now CNN has confirmed that these new flames have also forced the actress from her temporary residence, as well.

Don, I have to tell you, Suzanne Somers came up to our studios to be on "Showbiz Tonight" and I handed her a tape that I brought along, of something she and I had done together, maybe a dozen years ago. Just as a memento. And a tear came to her eye and she told me. I asked her why are you crying? And she said, I lost everything. I don't have a single tape. Anything that I ever did. So I can't imagine for her, or for anybody else, who has to face this yet for a second time, how truly difficult it must be, the idea of losing everything once more.

LEMON: Really, I mean, it's a cliche, but up in smoke. Just very, very quickly everything you have is gone.

Now, A.J., I know this is what you do, you report on Hollywood and the stars. Have you been able to get any reaction from the Hollywood community on all this?

HAMMER: Well, Don, obviously during these difficult times we always see this very tight-knit industry coming together for each other, of course, but really for the community at large. Right now I want you to listen to the outpouring of support from last night's premiere of "Rail & Ties". Camryn Manheim has family that was evacuated from the Stevenson Ranch Fire, while Marcia Gay Harden has personally lost loves ones to fires in the past. Watch this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CAMRYN MANHEIM, ACTRESS: Just support all of the local service people that are trying to put it out. It's just -- you know, it's on all of our minds constantly. We're watching it all the time. We're hearing about it all the time. We can smell it. We're breathing it all the time. And I would drop everything and do whatever I could.

MARCIA GAY HARDEN, ACTRESS: My heart goes out to all of the families and people dealing with their loss, hopefully material loss and not, you know, lives that are lost.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HAMMER: In addition, to morale support other famous neighbors in Malibu are really going an extra mile with hands-on support. DreamWorks billionaire David Geffen has reportedly opened up his recently renovated Malibu hotel. That to provide support to firefighters and those evacuees who need refuge.

The high-end Malibu eatery, Nobu (ph), basically a sushi joint and celeb favorite, is reportedly doing its part by donating food to firefighters and evacuees. And, obviously, stories like these can provide somewhat of a silver lining in what is just such a tragic time.

Now, coming up tonight no "Showbiz Tonight", we're going to be filling you in on Oprah's crisis. There is a startling investigation involving the school she set up to help young girls. What really happened? Why are the police now involved? We have the inside story for you tonight on TV's most provocative entertainment news show. We'll see you at 11 p.m. Eastern and Pacific, for "Showbiz Tonight" on Headline Prime.

LEMON: You got me interested. Any time you mention Oprah and an investigation, my goodness. All right. Thanks A.J. Hammer. We will be watching.

HAMMER: You got it.

LEMON: She watched her house go up in flames, on television, and we'll hear from her straight ahead in the CNN NEWSROOM.

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