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Breaking News

Fire Erupts Outside of Kandahar Base

Aired February 14, 2002 - 10:30   ET

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

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: We have got some breaking news going on right now. Not very much smiling going on right now in Kandahar.

Let's check in now with our Martin Savidge. He's reporting now that there is some shooting going on over there. Martin is joining us on the phone. Marty, what's the word?

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Leon, it was almost 24 hours to the exact minute from this time yesterday when there was a fire fight that broke out on the perimeter, when suddenly we were called out to the front of the terminal. This time not with gunfire, but with flares, illumination flares that were launched into the sky, that sometimes is a precursor to a fire fight, or other times just indicates that there is something going on the perimeter that they want to have a better look at.

There were a total of three flares, including large ones launched from the 81 millimeters, the big golden ones that dangle from a parachute, they came down outside of the perimeter of the airport, but one of them touched off a fire, and it is a major fire now that is burning just beyond the runway. After the flare hit the ground, it seemed to go out, but then suddenly there was a burst of light, an explosion was heard. Now the fire line is spreading rapidly. It measures probably about two to 300 yards across.

It doesn't appear to be threatening the airfield itself. It is hard to determine if there are positions of U.S. forces out there that may have been forced to evacuate or withdraw. Now, we've been forced to withdraw from where we were shooting, directly in front of the airport because we are told that there are armed soldiers that are about to pass through here.

Again, no gunfire that we have seen or heard, but apparently the base is on full alert. After last night, no one is taking any chances -- Leon.

HARRIS: Marty, let me ask you -- this fire, is it burning anywhere near any residences, are there any people that are in the line of that fire at all?

SAVIDGE: No, this whole area in front of the base has been cleared. There is not supposed to be anyone that is either living or even approaching the perimeter. If they were, it is very hazardous to their life. Not only with the patrolling of soldiers that are out there, but there are mines that are out there, there is a lot of unexploded ordnance. Perhaps some of that is what is burning. It appears that this is a land that is in the middle of a drought. There is not a lot of grass, so it is not a brush fire.

Something significant is burning out there, but meanwhile, there are concerns that something like this could be just a sort of diversion someone might want to create if they wanted to launch a raid against the base. Right now, they are taking things very seriously here, Leon. But, again, no gunfire as of yet.

HARRIS: Very interesting. Martin Savidge, keep us posted. Martin Savidge reporting live from Kandahar on the phone there. The word is that fire now spreading outside the base there in Kandahar, so just keep us posted. If you hear anything, Marty, just make sure you get back in touch with us.

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