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CNN Live At Daybreak

Four Firefighters Killed in Washington State Wildfire

Aired July 11, 2001 - 07:08   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.
COLLEEN MCEDWARDS, CNN ANCHOR: In Washington state overnight, four firefighters were killed when a wildfire jumped a fire line and then just overwhelmed them. The fire is burning in the North Cascades mountains near the town of Twisp.

The firefighters are believed to have been killed about 9:00 Eastern last night.

And joining us on the phone for more on this is Shannon O'Brian, a public information officer with the U.S. Forest Service.

Ms. O'Brian, thanks for being here. Tell us what happened to those four firefighters.

SHANNON O'BRIAN, PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER, U.S. FOREST SERVICE: Well, what I can tell you is that the fire started out very small in the morning. And around 3:30, it was up to about 100 acres. But then, sometime after that, it blew up and is now estimated to be at ,500 acres.

MCEDWARDS: So it's large. And is it clear how these firefighters got into trouble?

O'BRIAN: The exact incident will be investigated by a national team. But the erratic fire behavior caused by the winds and the drought conditions just caused the fire to blow up that fast.

MCEDWARDS: I understand. And we also understand that a fifth firefighter was burned severely.

And Ms. O'Brian, what's the word this morning on his condition?

O'BRIAN: I don't have a new update on his condition. He was sent to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle for treatment.

MCEDWARDS: OK, and what's the -- what's the state of the fire right now at this hour, do you know?

O'BRIAN: Actually, they've pulled resources -- pulled the resources from the fire because of the erratic fire behavior that was experienced yesterday evening and afternoon. And they have ordered more resources to fight the fire. But they haven't gone back out -- they haven't -- those resources aren't working on the fire. No -- there are no resources working on the fire right now. MCEDWARDS: Okay, understood.

Shannon O'Brian, public information officer with the U.S. Forest Service, thanks very much.

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