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Rick's List
Violence Erupts in Afghanistan; BP's Next Move?
Aired June 07, 2010 - 16:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: By the way, as we begin this next new -- this hour, I should say, I would like to welcome all of the troops that are watching us right now overseas. We are honored that they have chosen our show as a premiere on American Forces Network every day.
Here is your national conversation.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ (voice-over): Here is what is making your LIST today:
TONY HAYWARD, CEO, BP GROUP: We would expect it to be the majority, probably the vast majority.
SANCHEZ: Really? Actually, compared to what is still leaking, what they're collecting is a mere drop in the bucket. So, how are they going to be able to collect more? That's what we're looking into.
It is primary week in California. Now, how is it being affected by the Arizona immigration law?
An off-duty police officer at a bar with a gun shoots and kills an Iraq war veteran.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He had his hands up. So, he didn't have no weapons or anything.
SANCHEZ: Off-duty cop at a bar with a loaded gun. I'm asking, why?
The lists you need to know about. Who's today's most intriguing? Whose landed on the list you don't want to be on? Who's making news on Twitter? It's why I keep a list.
Pioneering tomorrow's cutting-edge news right now.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ: And welcome back. I'm Rick Sanchez.
I want to take you now through a series of very important developments involving the situation in the Gulf of Mexico and that spreading fiasco. First of all, 32 percent of the Gulf is now closed to fishing, no fishing in 32 percent of the Gulf. Now, you know I have been quantifying this story for you with numbers big and small now for more than a month.
But here's the picture that really needs no numbers. This is what often turns the story on a dime, when Americans start seeing this, all right? Look at these animals -- animals big and small covered in oil like these. Suddenly, everyone starts to lean in just a little bit more.
They want to know just a little bit more. It's a natural human response. But now you ask, who's responsible for this? Obviously, BP heads the list, but then there's Transocean, who did the drilling. And then there's the politicians who took lots of campaign contributions from both, and the agencies and the regulators who were supposed to make sure that they did things right, as we learn that they didn't.
Wait. We missed one as well. There's also Halliburton, yes, that Halliburton, who in this case was supposed to cement the drill to the bottom of the Gulf to make sure that it was sealed, and they may have messed this one up. That's according to recent reports in "The Wall Street Journal."
And then there's more. Let's suppose that someone is found to be the one that is blamed. If legal actions are taken against any one of these companies or all of these companies, how many judges do you think -- get me on camera, if you would, Dee (ph), if -- if you wouldn't mind, since we're just looking at this wallpaper video, which I hate.
How many judges could even hear this case? How many judges, do you think, would be able to hear this case if it went to the courts in the federal system? Are you ready for this. According to the Associated Press, 64 of the federal judges in this region -- there are 64 federal judges in the region that could hear this case. Thirty- seven of them appear to be possibly tainted, compromised, because they take money regularly from the oil and the gas companies.
Now to what's happening 5,000 feet below the surface right now. They say that they're collecting more than half now of the 798,000 gallons a day that was leaking, but, obviously, that means the other half -- that's almost 400,000 gallons a day -- is still leaking. They say, eventually, they will be able to collect more and more and more.
Gene Valentino is the commissioner of Escambia County in Florida. He joins me now by phone in Pensacola.
We are looking at the actual leak right now, and it seems to be very significant. You know, when you consider, Mr. Valentino, that at the very beginning, we were told by BP this was only 5,000 gallons a day, and now are supposed to be satisfied with the fact we're getting -- they're getting half of it, but that's leaving 400,000 gallons a day that's leaking into the Gulf?
You know, I wouldn't say it's time jump up and down and celebrate, would you?
GENE VALENTINO, COMMISSIONER, ESCAMBIA COUNTY, FLORIDA: Not at all, Rick. It's -- thank you for having me on the show.
SANCHEZ: Sure.
VALENTINO: It's a blessing. It's a curse. I'm glad to hear the good news. I'm disappointed it's -- hasn't been reported since day one with a sense of consistency in the level of the numbers.
SANCHEZ: Well, I have got to tell you, I mean, if this thing continues at this flow rate through August, I -- you know, look, I'm from -- I'm from South Florida, but I know that folks in Mississippi and Louisiana and parts of Alabama are upset, and they should be.
But, when you consider the size of the coasts in Florida that could be affected, all the way from Pensacola, snaking around through parts of Bradenton and Marco and Naples, all the way down to the Florida Keys, and maybe even coming back the other side, I mean, the -- the damage that would be done to that state would be like nothing we have ever seen before.
VALENTINO: Well, it would be -- it would be catastrophic. It's geometric compared to the Exxon Valdez.
It's significantly, percentage-wise, greater than the incident in -- down near the Yucatan about 20 years ago, the Gulf of Mexico. And, frankly, it is -- aside from the environmental and eco-habitat impacts, there is a -- a clear -- a clear economic development impact that will -- you know, we have a saying out here in the Panhandle of Florida. Welcome to Pensacola, Escambia County, western gate to the Sunshine State, where thousands live the way millions wish they could.
(LAUGHTER)
SANCHEZ: It's -- well, listen, it's a beautiful area, but, you know, there are -- there are many culprits in this thing, it seems. I mean, we're not only talking about culprits in the present.
I think many people are going to end up looking at this thing and saying, you know, the culprits were in the past. It's the regulators. It's -- it's -- the inspectors who may have closed their eyes and not kept tabs what was going on. It's the companies, all three of them, maybe, either Halliburton, or Transocean, or BP itself, who may have cut corners every time they get a chance.
It's the politicians who may have taken money in campaign contributions and perhaps not pressed these companies as much as they should have. We're going to see all of these things, aren't we?
VALENTINO: We're going to -- we're going to see all -- in fact, you know, I'm a local county commissioner in this -- this government structure here. There's five commissioners that are elected from the citizens amongst this county of 300,000 people.
And, you know, a lot of the licensing and permitting processes that go on with major oil companies like this in the Gulf are done at the federal level, and we have little or no say in whether we approve of -- if -- if I had approved -- I got to tell you honestly, if I had approved of drilling of oil in the past, as a -- as -- I did so because it was, in my opinion, a controlled -- that I had the belief that the corporations and/or government was on top of the regulatory procedures.
SANCHEZ: But what -- but, from what we know now, Mr. Valentino, would you ever allow a company to drill down 5,000 feet without having a relief well...
VALENTINO: Rick...
SANCHEZ: ... in -- in the process?
VALENTINO: ... I said on -- I said on a local government meeting recently that I will never support drilling again until there's an absolute certainty that there's remediation and procedures in place to respond, not only significantly, but timely to such a crisis, God forbid it occur to anybody.
SANCHEZ: Yes. Well...
VALENTINO: It is a catastrophe, but my concern is, is that I feel that the permitting process over in Louisiana with the federal government to allow drilling in the Gulf has now impacted the neighbor to the east...
SANCHEZ: Yes...
VALENTINO: ... Florida.
SANCHEZ: ... that -- that's a good point. Almost like somebody else said yes, and you're the one who's going to end up paying for it.
Well, listen, we will see what happens. I know there's a lot of concern about those plumes. I known we have seen tar balls washing up in parts of your state. But, hopefully, it won't get to the point where it will be as ugly as some of those marshes we have seen around Louisiana, although...
VALENTINO: Well, no, it -- it hasn't yet. We have -- I -- I'm part of a dive team, and hundreds of divers in the last two weeks have been out off the shores of Florida. And to the citizens, not to overstate or be too alarmist, it's still beautiful waters.
SANCHEZ: Yes, no. I know. I know. It's -- it's not what's there now. It's the fear and the possibility of the unknown that has many of us...
VALENTINO: And we're prepared to close the beaches down if that happens.
SANCHEZ: Listen, we will be in touch with you. And you have been a very kind guest. Thank you, sir, for taking the time to talk to us.
VALENTINO: My honor. Thank you.
SANCHEZ: All right.
Take a look at this, the empty chair at the White House briefings. It used to belong to none other than Helen Thomas. Not anymore. She is out, after some anti-Israeli comments so outrageous that some are saying they're more like anti-Semitic comments.
They are controversial. Even Robert Gibbs was forced to comment on this today. We will take you through it.
Also, this:
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT GIBBS, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: Those remarks were offensive and reprehensible. I think she should and has apologized.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: It is why Helen Thomas tops one of our lists today. You know which one it is. That's ahead.
Also, this crash and burn looked horrific, and, for several minutes, the crowd was stunned and confused. I'm going to tell you what actually happened after the driver was pulled out. That's coming up here in just a little bit.
We're coming back with your LIST, your national conversation. This is RICK'S LIST.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Welcome back. I'm Rick Sanchez.
And we do, in fact, have some breaking news, some violence that's erupted in Afghanistan. And at least 10 people, we understand, have been killed, 10 NATO troops, killed in Afghanistan. Seven of them are Americans.
Our international correspondent, Nic Robertson, is joining us now. He's got the very latest on the story.
Nic, what are we learning?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Rick, we know that five of those U.S. servicemen died when their vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device in the east of Afghanistan. There have been two other such attacks today.
Those two other attacks have killed another three soldiers as well, and two soldiers killed in separate small-arms fire attacks. And we also know from the U.S. Embassy here that an American citizen was killed in a complex suicide attack at the Kandahar police station earlier in the day, when a suicide bomber drove a car full of explosives up, blew a hole in the perimeter there, and then two further suicide bombers broke inside the compound, had gun battles, and then detonated their explosives. So, a very, very bloody day here in Afghanistan today, Rick.
SANCHEZ: How does this rank with other bloody days, as you say, there in Afghanistan? I can't recall the last time I remember 10 people being killed, 10 NATO troops being killed in one day.
ROBERTSON: It's bad. It's a really bad day. And it's not just bad from the number. Occasionally, you will get a helicopter go down, and you will see large number of servicemen die there.
But look at it. This is three different roadside bomb attacks and two small-arms gunfire attack. And these won't be the only incidents of the day. But, for example, yesterday, five service members died, three of them in a car accident, two of them, one in a roadside bomb, one in a gunfire attack.
But, typically, these figures that we're seeing right now, this is the 7th of June. Already, the figures for this month of June are looking as if the death toll for this month, unfortunately, will be substantially higher than we have seen in months already so far this year, Rick.
SANCHEZ: Yes, especially since we're talking about Afghanistan in this case, where we haven't seen some of those before.
Thanks so much for that update. We will be checking back to see what happens with this story.
Meanwhile, take a look at this video.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Tyrone was the love of my life. I don't know how else to put it. We just got to take one step at a time, one day at a time, and just put it in God's hands. That's all I can do.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: The love of her life was also a Marine. He served two tours in Iraq, came back, only to be shot to death at a Baltimore nightclub by an off-duty police officer who was also at a bar, armed and loaded. What happened? There's a lot of questions here, folks, and I'm going to ask them for you.
Also, it's primary week in California. How will Arizona's immigration law affect the campaign? And just how much money does it take to become governor? The cash thrown around in this race has been, well, astronomical. That's ahead.
Also, what do you have to say about the oil disaster in the Gulf? We are going to check some of your tweets on that. And, boy, there's been a lot of them -- not to mention Helen Thomas.
We will be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) (BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hey. Pat (ph) from Louisiana.
BP is being selfish and greedy by not using their resources to take care of the oil leak quickly and to save the Gulf Coast.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Hey, welcome back, everyone. This is your national conversation. A lot of opinions are being expressed about BP, but a lot is being said today about Helen Thomas.
You know, she either retired or was asked to retire today -- probably more like the latter, according to most of our reporting, but let me show you something. This is what you're saying. I will tell you, it's really a mixed bag.
"Rick, I'm Jewish, and I feel Helen Thomas is a great American and is not anti-Semite. I still love her."
The next one says, essentially, "Helen Thomas is being censured for disagreeing with official Israeli policy, being forced to retire."
The next one says: "Absolutely. That question is irrelevant." That's because they're -- they go on to say: "Germany and Poland? Are you kidding me? She knows it. That's why she resigned."
In other words, I had asked earlier for folks who were watching me -- we were having a conversation on Twitter. And I was asking, Helen was over the top? And this person is saying, yes, that she was over the top.
And, then, finally, look at this one. "So, I guess we should ship the Mayflower descendants back across the pond."
Interesting perspective from many of you, some of you being very respectful of Ms. Thomas, and others saying, no, what she did was wrong, and she should have retired.
All right. Now, take a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEVE POIZNER (R), CALIFORNIA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: I'm the one who supports the Arizona immigration law. I'm the one who's going to take tough stands on stopping the flow of illegal immigrants into California. She's not.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Could Arizona -- could Arizona's immigration law spill over into California's governor's race? Now, we're going to know in about 24 hours. Today, we're going to drill down with Jessica Yellin. She's coming back. That's next.
Stay right there.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Here come the elections.
Republicans in California's governor's race are breaking records for money spent in a primary election. This is a heated battle between a self-made billionaire and California's state insurance commission.
Now, some are accusing the billionaire of trying to buy the governor's office. We have heard that before, haven't we?
Here's Jessica Yellin. She talked to both candidates.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JESSICA YELLIN, CNN NATIONAL POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice- over): Meg Whitman is formidable. Former eBay CEO, self-made billionaire, she's invested $70 million of her own fortune in her campaign to be California's governor.
MEG WHITMAN (R), CALIFORNIA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: We can make the Golden State golden again.
YELLIN: Add in spending by her chief rival, state insurance commissioner Steve Poizner, and the avalanche of cash tops $100 million. That's a new record for spending in a state primary. So, what does that look like?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, AD)
NARRATOR: Do you like Arnold?
NARRATOR: You will love Meg Whitman.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, AD)
NARRATOR: Steve Poizner says California's heading over a cliff. Guess who was driving when it happened?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
YELLIN: It's not all attack ads. They have debated what to do about the state's $19 billion budget deficit, 12.6 percent unemployment and approximately 2.6 million illegal immigrants.
In these closing days, second-place Poizner has tried to put Whitman on the defensive over immigration.
STEVE POIZNER (R), CALIFORNIA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: I'm the one who supports the Arizona immigration law.
YELLIN: She has stepped up her get-tough language, but refused to embrace the controversial Arizona law...
WHITMAN: My plan in California, I think, is better suited for California.
YELLIN: ... no doubt with an eye on the state's Latino general election voters.
One issue that won't die for Whitman, why is she spending all that money?
UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTERS: Rich enough to rule!
YELLIN: She's been dogged by union-backed protesters calling her, "Queen Meg" trying to buy democracy.
(on camera): And that kind of money could have hired more than 700 police officers, more than 750 teachers. Does that bother you?
WHITMAN: Well, you know, what I'm doing is running for governor of California so I can turn this state around. And so what I need to do is, every voter, I want to understand where I stand.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ: And Jessica joins us now live. She's out there following things.
What are we to learn? What is the -- what is the message that the rest of the country will take from this California election, you think?
YELLIN: Well, one thing is, women are fully in the game out here. We have got two women candidates who are spending tons of their own personal fortune running for office. So, now it's equal opportunity on that front.
The other is, you know, this is another instance where you have two primary opponents trying to outdo each other in a -- in a primary by being conservative, and it could hurt them in the general election, whoever gets ahead.
And, so, Meg Whitman is trying to moderate her position, especially on immigration, because, if she goes too far to the right, she will never win statewide. And it has to make you think about how we run our primaries in this country.
SANCHEZ: We have heard so much about the Tea Party movement in the last five or six months. Is the Tea Party movement going to have an influence or a takeaway in this particular California election?
YELLIN: Well, the candidate that the Tea Party movement has backed in this -- or that seems to be aligned with in this race is the losing guy, Steve Poizner. I shouldn't say that, obviously. The election's tomorrow.
SANCHEZ: Right. YELLIN: So, let me take it back.
SANCHEZ: Yes, the guy who is down in the polls.
YELLIN: Polls show him...
SANCHEZ: Right.
YELLIN: ... trailing badly.
And, so, the Tea Party isn't playing out in that way in this race, but we will see if it -- it has an effect in the general election. Meg Whitman, if she makes it ahead to the next round, will face Jerry Brown, who's, you know, like the...
(LAUGHTER)
YELLIN: ... what the Tea Party hates, ultimate liberal...
(LAUGHTER)
YELLIN: ... you know, everything they can't stand, believes in government, believes government can be the solution.
So, I bet the Tea Party will really get lively when that race heats up.
SANCHEZ: It's almost like, yes, that Jerry Brown, right?
(LAUGHTER)
YELLIN: Right.
SANCHEZ: He's...
(CROSSTALK)
YELLIN: He's back.
SANCHEZ: He's Mr. California, as the consummate politician.
YELLIN: Yes.
SANCHEZ: Hey, Jessica, great to see you in the 4:00 hour. I look...
(CROSSTALK)
YELLIN: See you, Rick.
SANCHEZ: I will look forward to talking to you again tomorrow...
YELLIN: Nice to be here.
SANCHEZ: ... when these elections come in.
YELLIN: OK. Thank you.
SANCHEZ: All right.
Take a look at this, folks. Just how far are some people willing to go to get rid of Hispanic faces in Arizona? Believe it or not, there's been a call to lighten the skin color in this mural. And people who were driving by were, well, screaming profanities at the artist. We will take you through this story that's causing some controversy.
And then raging rivers and cars, they don't mix, especially when the car's flipped over and the driver is trapped inside upside down with the seat belt on. I will show you this amazing rescue in just a little bit.
That's next right here on RICK'S LIST.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Welcome back. I want to take you to some pictures right way. You see these pictures? You are going to see something coming up on the screen right away. And there it goes.
We understand this is -- and our thanks to WFAA, by the way, one of our partners out there in Texas. A great news station. It covers news as well as anybody out there.
Look at this picture, folks. Yes. It's exactly what you think it might be.
After everything that we've seen in the Gulf of Mexico regarding that explosion and that drilling platform, apparently something akin to that has happened again. This one, obviously, is on land.
This is in Hood County, I understand. It's an explosion of an oil well. And let me see. From what I can see here, and from what is being reported, the massive flames and the huge plume of smoke can be seen from miles around. Apparently, it's been going for quite some time.
Here what the fire chief says. He says at least six people have been injured as a result of this breaking news story in Hood Count in Texas.
They say they heard a loud explosion, some rumbling, it was like a tornado, shook the entire house. A plume of smoke came out of the steam, was heading our way. "The wind was blowing it right into our house. We are trying to work out whether this is something we freed to evacuate or not."
This is a woman who lives in Johnson County who had give than testimonial to some local reporters there. She goes on to say, "We really don't smell anything at this point. It sounds like faraway thunder at this point."
She said even an hour into this thing, she could still hear the rumbling. And obviously, this has been going on for quite some time.
As we've reported to you in the past, when we've talked to many of our engineers, sometime there's is a specific process to putting these oil wells out. Many people in Texas are familiar with the process, because this is not so rare.
Nonetheless, we don't know what the rescue response is yet on this particular case. I think we could -- we might be able to dip in -- all right.
There's a rescue -- all right. I'm being told by Angie Massey (ph), my executive producer, that she's just learned and I can share with you now that rescue choppers are on the way, and that more officials are heading to the scene as we speak.
This is a phenomenal picture. Isn't it? I mean, just look at that entire screen filled with that, and you can almost see that the oil itself, or the natural gas, or whatever it is that's coming out of the ground -- we don't know specifically what it is -- is obviously shooting out, which is causing those flames to go in that direction.
You see there as it -- OK. Now they're going in a little tighter.
It would be great if we had a -- Janelle (ph), if you're listening to me and you can get one of our mechanical engineers to join me, either Professor Satir (ph) or the professor we talked to earlier in the newscast who took us through the other situation, it would be great to just -- wouldn't it be great to get somebody who could say, OK, this is what this is and this is what they're going to do to cap it and this is how long it's going to take?
I mean, it's interesting to watch something like this. And, of course it develops its own noteworthiness, more so than it would have been if we hadn't been dealing with the situation in the Gulf of Mexico. But that's it.
It's in Hood County. Not sure -- Bonnie, are you over there?
I don't know if Bonnie's over there. I was trying to figure out where Hood County is at this point. Probably -- it's -- trying to get a better feel for exactly where -- all right.
I think we're going to be able to get the fire chief on here in just a little bit. He might be able to bring us some more information as to what's going on.
Now, we did talk to a Cleburne fire chief a little white ago.
Andreas (ph), you may check on the map to see where Cleburne is. It's C-L-E-B-U-R-N-E. Because one of the reports that I've been handed here is quoting the Cleburne fire chief.
I don't know where Cleburne is in Texas. It's certainly not a city that rolls off the tongue as something you'd think of as a big city in Texas. But I think we might be able to get him on the phone here, and he might be able to take us through this any information on what appears to be an oil well explosion in Hood County. This is -- oh, by the way, here's some more information on that.
It's in the Godley/Tolar area for those of you who may be familiar -- it looks like a very remote area. Obviously rural.
OK. Thanks, Angie.
Southwest of Dallas, Texas. Just southwest of Dallas, Texas, is this explosion in the Godley/Tolar area of Hood County.
Apparently, it's been going for quite some time now. And you know what's interesting, as you look at these pictures -- I don't know, Robert. You're looking at those things with me. You don't see anybody there, right?
It does look like there's rescue officials there are on the scene, and I can't help but wonder why if they say that there may have been some people injured.
Listen to what I'm readying here. They say as many as six people have been injured as a result of this, but I can't see a -- oh, OK. There's another small fire there -- oh, that's interesting.
It looks like there's more -- if you look closely, look at the bottom of the screen there, right there where some of those -- where it looks like that transformer farm is. You see that right there? It looks like there's fire coming from there as well, right next to the transformer farm, just south of where that picture was.
Now the helicopter is going in tight, and it's a little harder to be able to see. So I'll tell you what, let's stay on top of this just to figure out what we can.
This is in Fort Hood County (sic). Pardon me. I misspoke. That's in Hood County, in the Godley/Tolar area.
And we're going to try and sneak a break in. As we come back, we'll let you know what's going on.
Stay right there. This is your national conversation.
I'm Rick Sanchez. This is RICK'S LIST.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Welcome back.
We've got breaking news.
I'm Rick Sanchez. This is RICK'S LIST.
And this situation is an explosion that appears to be some kind of oil well has just taken place in Texas about an hour or so ago, and apparently it's still burning.
This is a brand new picture you're looking at right here. This is from CBS 11 TV. We want to thank them for that picture.
Look at the size of this thing.
Dee (ph), if you could, just lose the banner for just moment so they can see the point of origin on this thing. And then you can put it back.
See that right there's? Look at the size of that thing.
All right. Yes, you can put it back, if you want, Dee (ph), now.
Switch over to the other shot. Go to the shot from WFAA now.
All right. There's the shot from WFAA. And from time to time, that shot goes in real tight.
And you'd think, like the situation in the Gulf, you'd be looking for a pipe or a wellhead or something. But what's peculiar about this oil explosion is we don't see anything there. I'm not sure if it's burned off or what.
Now, let me tell you where this is. It's in the Godley/Tolar area of Texas, not far from Dallas, I understand. We were originally told it was Hood County, but now we're being told it's Johnson County. And we've got just the guy who can clear this up for us.
The Cleburne fire chief there is Clint Ishmael, and he's joining us.
Fire Chief Ishmael, are you there, sir?
CHIEF CLINT ISHMAEL, CLEBURNE, TEXAS, FIRE DEPT.: Yes, sir.
SANCHEZ: You're on with CNN.
Can you tell us what the situation is there right now?
ISHMAEL: Well, at this point, we've had an explosion from an underground pipe line. We've got several people burned. We've got an unknown number of people still unaccounted for. We're trying to locate those people.
There's no way we can try to put this fire out. And we're looking for the gas company to try to get the fire shut off to the fire so that we can extinguish the fire.
SANCHEZ: Is this natural gas, sir?
This is natural gas, yes, sir?
ISHMAEL: This is natural gas, yes, sir.
SANCHEZ: Yes, it seemed that way. So what is the source of this natural gas? s it --
ISHMAEL: Well, it's an underground pipeline. We don't know what size that underground pipeline. It could be a six inch to a 16 inch.
SANCHEZ: Is this the point of origin? In other words, is this gas being taken from the ground in that well right there, or is it a pipe that's being used to move it from one place to another?
ISHMAEL: No. At this point, we believe it's a transportation pipe, not out of the ground. I think they were -- whatever activity they were doing at the site, they struck an underground line.
SANCHEZ: Now, it looks to me, as the picture goes out -- go back to those FAA pictures, if you would there, Dee (ph). Thanks.
If you look at these pictures, sir, we're looking at different places where is it seems like there's little bursts or little points of either flames or gas. Why is that?
ISHMAEL: Well, it depends on the pipeline. If it were ruptured and exploded, we may have actually fuel coming out from both sides of the pipeline. The explosion may have tore (ph) the pipeline a distance from hundreds of feet wide.
SANCHEZ: How do you go in there and deal with this knowing that it's so tenuous? I mean, there could be little fires developing anywhere, couldn't there?
ISHMAEL: Well, we've got fires, just grass fires, vegetation fires that have come up around this, but at this point, with the fire burning the gas, the threat from the gas has diminished greatly at that point. What we're trying to do is assemble a crew to see if there are any possibilities of a rescue efforts for some people that have been unaccounted for.
SANCHEZ: Who would those people be? What were they doing out there near that well? Were they working?
ISHMAEL: I don't have that information. We don't have a number.
All we know is that -- from the crews that were out here, they made statements that they have not accounted for everybody on the crew. When the explosion happened, everybody pretty much ran in different directions trying to get away from that, and so if they're anywhere around that plume, the chances of survival are slim.
SANCHEZ: So you're not there. Where are your crews right now? Are they anywhere near the fire, Chief?
ISHMAEL: No. Our crews are probably 600 yards away from the fire at this point, trying to see if we can get access to anywhere close to it.
SANCHEZ: But you're not going anywhere near it, I understand, because you're not going to be able to put this thing out? ISHMAEL: No, that's right. We can't put any water on it. Even if we were successful in putting the fire out, that's going to cause a bigger hazard than the fire itself.
SANCHEZ: So, I imagine at this point you have to just wait and see if you can find somebody with the gas company to either turn the line off or at another point, right?
ISHMAEL: Say again?
SANCHEZ: Are you going to have to try and find a way to turn the gas off at some other point in the line?
ISHMAEL: That's correct. We're trying to locate valves, working with the gas line, pipe line people to located valves and turn the fuel off. At this point, that's our only hope of tying to extinguish this fire.
SANCHEZ: And would you mind telling us, what is that gas company who owns this line?
ISHMAEL: At this point we don't have that information.
SANCHEZ: You don't have that information? You don't know who that is?
ISHMAEL: Correct.
SANCHEZ: Well, Chief, you've been very kind, sir. I know you've got a lot of work -- oh, by the way, I'm looking at a helicopter now not far from the scene. Is that where you are, sir?
ISHMAEL: Yes, we're pretty much underneath the power lines. We've got a crew of three people suited up, trying to see if they can make access anywhere close to the site.
SANCHEZ: Wow. Hey, Chief, you've been very helpful, sir. I don't want to keep you much longer. It sounds to me like you've got a lot of work to do, and I think what you have to do is more important.
So we'll get back to you. Let us know whatever else you find out.
Brooke Baldwin is joining us, watching this thinking now.
You know, it's remarkable, especially, Brooke, when you consider what's going on in the Gulf of Mexico. Just, these things can happen from time to time.
What have you got?
BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: So, I've been scouring different Web sites, of course. We've been looking at the pictures from FAA. I want to read you something I got off the "Star-Telegram" Web site. This is a Dallas-based newspaper. And when we talk about some sort of eyewitness accounts, here's what we're hearing from a Michael McDonald (ph), who's a resident, apparently, of this local area. It's called Pecan Plantation.
He said his daughter was playing outside right around 2:30 local time when he heard and felt a large commotion outside. He said it felt like the pictures were going to come off the wall. It sounded like a space shuttle is taking off. He said that the well was still spewing, that there was a continuous sound almost like a jet flying over.
SANCHEZ: You know, it's so interesting when you watch these pictures, especially considering what we've been watching in the Gulf, that these things really are as dangerous and as prone to explosion as, you know, we now have come to realize. I mean, for the longest time, we've tended to take these things for granted as just kind of a process that we go through, but, you know, here we are looking at these pictures now.
Look at that. Look at the size of this --
BALDWIN: The line of the burn.
SANCHEZ: Yes, it's almost like a line now that's going from one area to another.
Now, show that helicopter shot, if you could, too, from CBS 11 TV that's coming in out of Texas, if you would. Switch to that.
Now, that shot just a while ago was showing us -- and if you follow the helicopter, you see the other area that's affected by this. It's starting to look like a bigger area than we originally thought.
All right. I thought he was going to go into that other area.
OK. Go back to the WFAA shot, if you would, Dee (ph). I'm sorry.
Now look at the size of that thing, and you see that it's obviously -- you heard what the chief was telling me moments ago.
BALDWIN: Right.
SANCHEZ: He said -- OK, now go back to CBS 11. That's the one I wanted to see. Go back to CBS 11 if you could.
There you go.
BALDWIN: Look at those flames. He said they can't put it out because of the gas.
SANCHEZ: Yes.
BALDWIN: Did you hear that? That made me gulp.
SANCHEZ: Now, look at that -- oh, we just lost it. By golly. BALDWIN: Darn it.
SANCHEZ: OK. It's back. It's back.
BALDWIN: There we go.
SANCHEZ: Go back to CBS 11. Now, you see all the little fires in the background, you see all that stuff back there?
BALDWIN: Where? Are you talking beyond --
SANCHEZ: Yes. Look. You've got the big dot in the middle, right? All that flames.
Now look beyond the flames, and you see all of that burning back there, almost as if -- and then just to the left you see more burning and just to the right you see more burning. Almost as if there's something going on there underground. But if it really is a pipe, one pipe --
BALDWIN: Well, he said we don't know how big it is, we don't know how long it is. So, perhaps those different bits of smoke along that whole line could stem from that same pipeline that obviously burst.
SANCHEZ: You're absolutely right. You're absolutely right. At this point they don't know.
But you usually can tell, because when they lay pipe like that down, they usually cut the grass in the area almost -- in other words, if you're in a helicopter, you could see where the line -- oh, there you go. Now, look at that. Look at that right there.
That looks like part of the line. Doesn't that look like part of line right there?
BALDWIN: It does.
SANCHEZ: It looks like a log, but that's actually part of where the line might be coming from.
BALDWIN: It sounds like you've got an eyewitness on the phone. Did you hear that?
SANCHEZ: Have we got one?
BALDWIN: On the other side of the break.
SANCHEZ: Fantastic. All right.
Do you want to stay here?
BALDWIN: Sure.
SANCHEZ: Stay right here.
When we come back, we have an eyewitness who's going to join us and take us through this. And we're going to be right back.
This is RICK'S LIST, your national conversation.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Wow. As we look at these pictures now, this developing story, it's a natural gas line that's exploded.
And I think, folks, I think I might have some bad news for you. WFAA is now reporting that this natural gas facility has exploded in Johnson City (sic) -- Johnson County, pardon me. Three people are dead -- that's according to the Cleburne city manager -- and as many as 10 people are missing. Unaccounted for, says one report.
Massive flames, huge plume of smoke can be seen in the area. Well, obviously. I think we've been looking ourselves. And it now is starting to appear as we look at this -- remember you and I were talking a little while ago about why it is that there's this one big flame in the middle --
BALDWIN: Right.
SANCHEZ: -- and then there's other little fires around it? It appears that it started a grass fire, apparently. When the line first exploded, it was bigger than what it looks like now. Obviously, it exploded, went out, affected those, and some of those little grass fires are still burning. So, that may explain what's going on in that area, and that may explain what may have burned things like this, that we're looking at now, this tractor, or bus, or vehicle that's not far from the scene.
So, all these new pictures are coming in. We're looking at them at the first time as well, guys. This is all raw, unedited video, much of it live. And as we get in, we share it right away with you.
I understand you've got somebody's on the line?
BALDWIN: Yes. We've been looking at these pictures. And from this aerial view, it looks fairly rural. But from what we understand, there's a neighborhood about a mile north of here with 3,000 people living in it, including Laura Harlin. And Laura is joining us now on the phone to kind of walk us through.
Laura, if you can, just explain. Did you hear this? Did it sound like an explosion? What did it feel like to you?
LAURA HARLIN, LIVES NEAR BLAST SITE: Well, about 2:40 Central Time, we heard a rumbling. And like I said, at first I thought it was thunder. It sounded kind of like a jet engine roaring, and it lasted for about 10 minutes.
BALDWIN: Ten minutes.
HARLIN: Our house shook, glass shook. We went out to see what we could see. Neighbors were in the street as we watched this huge plume of smoke or steam arising up above our neighborhood. BALDWIN: And I understand the smoke is still hanging above your neighborhood, right, an hour-plus later?
HARLIN: Yes. It's still -- the first flume lasted, like I said, for about 10 minutes, where it was a very noticeable, large plume. And then after about 10 minutes, the noise went to a distant thunder and not quite the rumbling noise we heard. And then it became smoke, more smoke-like than --
(CROSSTALK)
SANCHEZ: Well, I'm confused about the -- you know, usually when something like this happens, there's a big explosion, it might last a few seconds. I can't imagine something like this, as you said, lasting 10 minutes.
Take us through. Describe to us what that was like.
HARLIN: Well, we had just put our children to sleep and thought we were about to be overtaken by a tornado or something. And so we jumped up to find out what was happening and couldn't find any answers. And so we've been -- that's how I actually ended up making some calls, trying to figure out what is happening. We were told not to evacuate at this point, so we are waiting to see if we really should be going north or west.
SANCHEZ: How far are you from -- two questions. Let me ask you the first one first. How far are you from this explosion itself?
HARLIN: We think about a mile.
SANCHEZ: And how far are you from the line itself? You know, the line usually goes through the neighborhood or just the outskirts of the neighborhood. Do you know how far you are from the line?
HARLIN: We actually are separated from it by a river, so it goes around the river. It doesn't cross over.
SANCHEZ: Has this ever been a concern? Have you ever heard people in the community say, boy, we're really concerned about that gas line?
HARLIN: Not that one in particular, no. But I know in Texas -- I mean, I think every rancher has one in their back yard that is running through it. It's not by choice, but by supposed eminent domain. And so, yes, that's a real concern.
The neighborhood that we live in is not so much because of our being separated by the river.
SANCHEZ: Do you know, by chance, who owns the line? We've been trying to nail that down for some time, but the fire chief didn't know.
HARLIN: We haven't heard anything and I know the news isn't releasing it if they do know who it is. BALDWIN: Laura, are you hearing -- when we're looking at these pictures, we're not seeing fire. Are you seeing or are you hearing sirens? Are people responding?
HARLIN: No. All we hear -- like I said, the rumble is still going on. It sounds like thunder at this point, and so that's really blocking out any other noises we might be hearing.
SANCHEZ: A lot of folks on Twitter have been joining in now from Texas. And we thank you. And we understand that many of you are expressing your condolences for those who may have died in this situation.
You are the ones who told me to go to WFAA's Web site. I'm on it right now, and I've been reading on the WFAA Web site that they're confirms that there are three people dead, 10 people unaccounted for, 10 people missing, they say, in the story.
BALDWIN: Look at al of the ambulances. Sorry to interrupt you.
SANCHEZ: Yes. Now we're getting a lot of commotion out there, aren't we?
BALDWIN: Yes, there they go. We could see, obviously, the helicopter landing. But then prior to that, they pan, and I saw at least a dozen vehicles.
I saw ambulances, various emergency personnel, obviously responding. And I'm sure that they can't get close. It's a matter of their own safety.
SANCHEZ: Hey, thanks, Laura.
HARLIN: Thanks very much.
BALDWIN: Thank you.
SANCHEZ: Appreciate your time. Take care of your kids and yourself.
We're going to be right back, folks. This developing story is taking place right now.
Brooke and I are going to be taking you through it. As we go to break, I should tell you that we've got some guests that have been joining us as well. Some folks are coming in today for part of our RICK'S LIST tour.
I'm glad that you guys are here.
And we'll keep asking questions. We'll be trying to figure out what's going on in Texas as we speak.
This is your national conversation. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) SANCHEZ: We're trying to get as much information as we can for you.
There's two different pictures. One is from CBS 11 television, and the other one out of Dallas, and the other one is WFAA.
WFAA, by the way, is reporting that 10 people are missing, three people are dead as a result of this explosion, what appears to be some kind of natural gas line. It must have been a powerful explosion, because we've talked to witnesses who are telling us that this thing rumbled for about 10 minutes before it finally stopped.
And if you follow with your eyes the circumference around that circle, if you draw a circle around the actual fire, you can see that there are actual other, like, fires, grass fires that developed there as well.
BALDWIN: Smoke around the periphery. Yes.
And oddly enough, earlier this morning, in Marshall County, West Virginia, there was a gas well explosion there. Some crews were apparently going in one of the old mines, and the methane, bam. Seven workers there. All today.
SANCHEZ: Isn't that interesting?
BALDWIN: Seven workers injured. That was in West Virginia.
SANCHEZ: Look at that tight shot right there, and you can see kind of where the wellhead -- or the actual pipe, pardon me -- is.
Down to 30 seconds.
Bonnie, what's the weather in this situation? What's this thing going to do?
BONNIE SCHNEIDER, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, right now the weather is really hot. That's the worst thing that you can say.
The temperature is about 90. But the problem is, it feels even hotter. Right now, the heat index is about 100 degrees in this area.
So here's where the fire is located, just to the south and west of Dallas. The winds, though, have been light. I looked back over the past day or so, and they've been only out of the north, possibly about three miles per hour. But now they're calm.
SANCHEZ: You know what's interesting when you look at something like this? Oftentimes, firemen will always tell you it makes its own wind. The fires make their own wind.
BALDWIN: Unbelievable.
SANCHEZ: All right. Let's take it up to "THE SITUATION ROOM." I'm sure they'll follow this for us as well.
Here's Wolf Blitzer.
