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CNN Live At Daybreak
Wyoming Faces Raging Wildfires
Aired July 30, 2001 - 07:03 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: Firefighters in Wyoming are being kept busy by two fires. Officials at Yellowstone National Park have closed the east entrance after a fast-moving fire headed closer to the road there.
Firefighters battling a blaze in the Grand Teton National Park report gaining on a wildfire there.
CNN's Eric Philips joins us now live with more on this -- Eric.
ERIC PHILIPS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, good morning, Colleen.
Day eight of battling this very stubborn wildfire here, which is believed to have been caused by an abandoned camp fire. But on this new day comes some encouraging news. Fire officials tell us that this fire is about 70 percent contained at this point. But they're not in the clear yet, because much of what happens now still depends on the weather.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice over): More than a week of battling the Green Knoll fire, and crews are still at it.
UNIDENTIFIED FIREFIGHTER: Oh, morale is great. It is excellent.
PHILIPS: In the air, there have been 11 helicopters dropping thousands of gallons of water, plus another 10 firefighting air tankers spreading fire retardant -- and on land, more than 1,200 men and women working to contain the blaze.
UNIDENTIFIED FIREFIGHTER: It depends on the weather, if the weather will hold out.
PHILIPS: The weather did hold up Sunday, allowing crews to make some headway on the fire, which has burned nearly 4,500 acres; 150 nearby homes are the focal point of concern, with dozens of families evacuated since Wednesday.
Everyone in the community, even children like Carol Poole's daughter, are thankful and fearful.
CAROL POOLE, HOMEOWNER: Every day she asks, "Are we going to be evacuated today?" And we have to explain no. We don't know, you know, what's going to happen.
PHILIPS: Some homes have been sprayed with flame-resistant foam. Others have uses sprinklers to try to protect their property. So far, no structures have been lost. Still, residents won't exhale just yet.
POOLE: We are sitting and waiting and listening to radio and trying to keep as calm as possible.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILIPS: Many families are waiting to find out when exactly they will be able to return to their homes. Fire officials are hoping the weather will cooperate so that can happen soon. Today the forecast is calling for scattered showers. Folks here are hoping that scattered showers doesn't mean gusting winds.
Eric Philips, CNN live, Wilson, Wyoming.
MCEDWARDS: Eric, before you go, I know it's early there. I don't know how much you have been able to see yet this morning. But can you describe that for us? And just tell us where you are in relation to where the fire is at this point.
PHILIPS: Well, the fire would actually be behind me at this point. There is a mountainous area behind me, which is very smoky. It is very early in the morning here right now, just a little after 5:00 in the morning. So it's very tough to see. It's just darkness behind me.
As we were driving up this morning though, we could see little pinholes -- little light pinholes, which we believe were pockets of fire. And of course, that's what the firefighters are trying to do, is attack those pockets of fire to keep this from spreading.
MCEDWARDS: All right, thanks very much, Eric Philips -- appreciate it.
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