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CNN Live Saturday
New Mexico Homeowners Hope to Escape Wildfire
Aired July 05, 2003 - 12:09 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.
SEAN CALLEBS, CNN ANCHOR: Homeowners in New Mexico hope to escape disaster from a furious wildfire. A blaze is shooting 100-foot flames from a mountainside just outside the resort town of Taos. This fire is just one of several blazes burning across the Southwest including Arizona and Southern California. Reporter Kate Godwin with affiliate, KOAT, is in Taos with more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KATE GODWIN, KOAT CORRESPONDENT: So far, this morning, the Encibado fire has laid low. The thick plumes of black smoke replaced with the White Haze that is filling the town's valley, the firefighters say the real test will come this afternoon. Forecasters are calling for another very hot, very dry day and that is bad news for those trying to keep the fire from becoming as erratic as was Friday. The latest estimates put the blaze at 700 to 1,000 acres consuming a variety of different tree species especially the dense Ponderosa Pine forests.
The main goal today is to keep the flames from reaching the historic Taos Pueblo, the fire's within a half mile of the edge of this historic sight, home to centuries old Native America buildings. Taos Pueblo governor, Allen Martinez, says the oldest buildings in the Pueblo are safe, for now. But, six homes on the Eastern outskirts are at risk of being consumed if the winds, again, fan the flames, today.
So far, there are no mandatory evacuations, but through the night, authorities were knocking on doors making sure people living near the blaze knew exactly where the flames were heading. Also overnight, bulldozer crews managed to dig a line around 30% of the fire. The fire officials say it takes days before this blaze is under control. This morning, reconnaissance planes circled the burn area mapping routes for air tankers and helicopters that will drop retardant later this afternoon. More firefighters are on their way to help out, too. They're expected to arrive sometime this afternoon adding to the more than 200 people already out on the lines.
Reporting from Taos Pueblo in New Mexico, I'm Kate Godwin. Sean, back to you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired July 5, 2003 - 12:09 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SEAN CALLEBS, CNN ANCHOR: Homeowners in New Mexico hope to escape disaster from a furious wildfire. A blaze is shooting 100-foot flames from a mountainside just outside the resort town of Taos. This fire is just one of several blazes burning across the Southwest including Arizona and Southern California. Reporter Kate Godwin with affiliate, KOAT, is in Taos with more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KATE GODWIN, KOAT CORRESPONDENT: So far, this morning, the Encibado fire has laid low. The thick plumes of black smoke replaced with the White Haze that is filling the town's valley, the firefighters say the real test will come this afternoon. Forecasters are calling for another very hot, very dry day and that is bad news for those trying to keep the fire from becoming as erratic as was Friday. The latest estimates put the blaze at 700 to 1,000 acres consuming a variety of different tree species especially the dense Ponderosa Pine forests.
The main goal today is to keep the flames from reaching the historic Taos Pueblo, the fire's within a half mile of the edge of this historic sight, home to centuries old Native America buildings. Taos Pueblo governor, Allen Martinez, says the oldest buildings in the Pueblo are safe, for now. But, six homes on the Eastern outskirts are at risk of being consumed if the winds, again, fan the flames, today.
So far, there are no mandatory evacuations, but through the night, authorities were knocking on doors making sure people living near the blaze knew exactly where the flames were heading. Also overnight, bulldozer crews managed to dig a line around 30% of the fire. The fire officials say it takes days before this blaze is under control. This morning, reconnaissance planes circled the burn area mapping routes for air tankers and helicopters that will drop retardant later this afternoon. More firefighters are on their way to help out, too. They're expected to arrive sometime this afternoon adding to the more than 200 people already out on the lines.
Reporting from Taos Pueblo in New Mexico, I'm Kate Godwin. Sean, back to you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
