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CNN Live At Daybreak

Australian Firefighters Beat Back Blaze

Aired January 02, 2002 - 06:26   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.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: A battle has been raging in Australia for two days, a lot of people have been fighting tirelessly to beat back the enemy and it is a major brushfire.

Reporter Mark Simmons (ph) has the story from the West Pymble suburb of Sydney.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARK SIMMONS, 7 NEWS (ph) REPORTER: They did their best to prepare for this day, 300 firefighters had worked through the night back burning in the face of the fire's menacing approach. Their operations watched anxiously by local residents of all types.

The young mom's dash for safety successful.

At times, the back burn seemed like the real thing to some residents.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There is all this back-burning going on (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SIMMONS: By midmorning, the predicted strong winds arrived, flames surging back into life and racing out of the gullies.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Getting closer. This fire (ph) (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SIMMONS: The smoke and the heat intensified.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Actually, I'm worried. I'm panic stricken.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SIMMONS: Some decided it was time to leave, unsure if they'd be able to save their home.

Water bombers buzzing overhead, householders shoulder to shoulder with firefighters. Even overseas visitors roped in to help.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hard work?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well let's put it this way, it wasn't what I expected on holiday from England where the temperature is minus six and it's snowing.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It is slightly exciting. I've never seen anything like this before. At home we don't have anything like this. Floods we can do, rain we can do, but we don't do fires.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SIMMONS: The fight was taken right to the edge of properties, but determined firefighters prevail.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A little bit hairy for a while?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, but of course you're too busy -- you're too busy taking action to worry too much about it once the chips are down.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SIMMONS: Firefighter numbers boosted to more than 500. Time and again, flames licked its back fences. Time and again, they were repulsed.

Most admit this fire was worse than 1994, hotter, fiercer, but they were better prepared and better resourced.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PHIL KOPERBERG, RURAL FIRE COMMISSIONER: The fact that in the Lane Cove National Park, Pennant Hills Park complex of fires we have lost no property is astounding.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SIMMONS: Earlier, the premier toured fire-scared Marsfield (ph) with the local Federal MP who just happens to be Prime Minister John Howard.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Andrew's in charge here.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He is.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, yours and...

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SIMMONS: Three hundred and twenty hectares of bush destroyed, the politicians happy to be talking to locals about how close it came rather than consoling them over lost homes.

Mark Simmons, 7 News.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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